Daijiworld Media Network – Chennai
Chennai, Jun 2: In a landmark verdict, the Chennai Mahila Court on Monday sentenced A Gnanasekaran, a temporary staffer at the Centre for Women Empowerment in Anna University, to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a woman student. The court mandated a minimum of 30 years in prison without remission and imposed a fine of Rs 90,000.
Gnanasekaran, also a biriyani vendor, was arrested in December 2024 after the survivor filed a complaint, sparking statewide outrage and protests from student bodies and women’s rights groups. The assault occurred on December 23, 2024, when the accused allegedly threatened and assaulted the victim while she was with a male friend.
Judge Rajalakshmi found him guilty on May 28 under 11 charges, including rape, abduction, and criminal trespass, framed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the IT Act, and the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act.
Strong forensic and documentary evidence, including CCTV footage and call records, played a key role in securing the conviction. The case was initially marred by procedural lapses, prompting the Madras High Court to hand over the investigation to a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which later filed a detailed charge sheet.
The verdict has been hailed as a strong message against gender-based violence and the abuse of institutional spaces.