Life term for convict in Anna University sex assault case

A Mahila Court in Chennai has sentenced A. Gnanasekaran to life imprisonment in the sexual assault case. The accused A. Gnanasekaran, was convicted on the  28th of last month after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a student at the Anna University. Judge M. Rajalakhshmi said that the accused must remain in prison for at least 30 years without remission. The Court awarded sentences in respect of each of the 11 charges proved by the prosecution against him. A second-year student of the University was sexually assaulted at the University campus in December last year. He had also filmed the act with an intention to blackmail her. He was arrested the same day.
The Court has also imposed a fine of Rs. 90 thousand on the accused. He had earlier pleaded for minimum punishment, citing his need to be at home to look after his elderly mother and eight-year-old daughter. But in view of his conviction on all the charges, he must get the maximum punishment, the judge had said.The sexual assault case that found closure after five months of trial had also sparked a massive row in December.Public Prosecutor Mary Jeyanthi said, “According to us, the accused’s phone is the weapon of the case.” She explained that the phone was sent for forensic analysis via court order to map his activity on December 23. She cited Section 358 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which empowers the court to attach others as accused if multiple persons are involved. “But in this case, the evidence was clear. The court did not find reason to add anyone else. Making such claims now amounts to contempt of court,” she said. Praising the survivor, she said, “Because she had the courage to file a complaint, justice has been delivered today. The law, the court, and the government will not remain silent when a woman faces such an atrocity.

Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Following the verdict in the Anna University student sexual harassment case, Government counsel Mary Jeyanthi emphasized the significance of the judgment, noting that the court awarded the maximum sentence, equivalent to life imprisonment. The convict must… pic.twitter.com/Yan8Jt0DzF

— IANS (@ians_india) June 2, 2025

Chief Minister MK Stalin welcomed the court's verdict and said that through their action, Tamil Nadu and said that through their action, Tamil Nadu police have responded to those who do drama over women's safety.  Welcoming the conviction, Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami had raised that the convict had spoken to a certain "sir" during the sexual assault. The identity of this alleged person remains unknown, with the police saying he had only pretended to speak to someone, and no one else was involved.
The case, initially filed by the Kotturpuram Police, was later handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on the direction of the Madras High Court. Following a detailed investigation, the SIT filed a chargesheet in the Mahila Court. The sexual assault survivor appeared in court for the first time on April 23, and arguments began the same day.