Accused in Anna University sexual assault case, which triggered outrage across Tamil Nadu, found guilty
Anna University Sexual Assault Case Verdict: The accused, a biryani seller and repeat offender, had entered the campus and committed the crime on December 23 last year.
The victim was allegedly sexually assaulted by the 37-year-old accused, who sold Biryani on the pavement of the university. (File)
Chennai Sexual Assault Case News: A Mahila Court in Chennai on Wednesday convicted A Gnanasekaran, a 37-year-old biryani vendor and repeat offender, for the sexual assault of a 19-year-old student on the Anna University campus last December – an incident that triggered statewide outrage and led to the formation of a Special Investigation Team by the Madras High Court.
Gnanasekaran, brought in under tight security from the Puzhal Central Prison to the Mahila Court premises at the Madras High Court campus, remained expressionless as Judge M Rajalakshmi read out the verdict, declaring him guilty under 11 sections of various laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Information Technology Act, and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. The court said it would pronounce the sentence on June 2.
The incident, which occurred on the evening of December 23, 2024, involved the survivor and her male friend sitting on the steps of a university building. Gnanasekaran, a resident of nearby Kottur and a known history-sheeter, entered the campus through the Madras University side around 7:10 pm, having deliberately set his mobile phone to flight mode to avoid tracking. Though pretending to be on a call, investigators later established that his phone was not connected to any network.
At 7:45 pm, he approached the duo, struck the male student on the head, and snatched the young woman’s ID card. He then threatened them, claiming he had recorded a compromising video and would share it with university authorities, potentially resulting in disciplinary action, including the issuance of a transfer certificate.
Claiming that her friend had been caught by university staff, Gnanasekaran led the woman to a secluded spot, ordered her to keep her phone on flight mode, and sexually assaulted her. He recorded the act on his phone and used the footage to threaten her into silence.
Despite the threats, the survivor approached the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station the next day, Christmas Eve, and filed a formal complaint. What followed was not only the arrest of the accused but also a media frenzy after the police FIR was uploaded with the victim’s details – a violation of norms. The leak prompted the HC to order an inquiry into the breach, alongside transferring the main investigation to an all-women Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The SIT, composed entirely of senior women officers, completed its probe and filed a detailed chargesheet in February 2025. The case was subsequently moved to the Mahila Court, where the trial commenced. Over the weeks, the court framed charges under multiple BNS sections, including criminal trespass, wrongful restraint, abduction, rape, and sexual harassment.
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Throughout the trial, Gnanasekaran maintained his plea of not guilty. The court, however, found the evidence – including forensic reports, digital footage, and eyewitness testimonies – conclusive.
Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority.
Expertise
Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews.
Key Coverage Areas:
State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor.
Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties.
Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu.
Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail.
His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More
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