A Mahila Court on Monday granted life sentence for “a minimum period of 30 years without remission” (without the possibility of a reduced sentence due to good behaviour) to the sole accused in the Anna university campus rape case that happened in Descember 2024. The court asserted that the allegations against A Gnanasekaran were proven beyond doubt and awarded sentences in respect of each 11 charges proven against him by the prosecution.
Tamil Nadu Court Awards Life Imprisonment To Accused In Anna University Sexual Assault Case
The case which was first registered by the Tamil Nadu police was transferred to a SIT by the Madras High Court citing the both tone of the FIR, which was seen as victim-blaming, and the security lapses on campus.
The sentence was handed four days after the conviction on May 28 including rape, abduction, wrongful confinement, and criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act, and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.
According to the court, Gnanasekaran had sought leniency in the sentence on the grounds that he was the sole bread-winner in his family. However, the prosecution objected to the request and sought the maximum punishment.
What was the case?
The police stated the victim and her male friend were sitting together in the university campus on the night of December 23, 20224. This is when Gnanasekaran, a 37-year-old roadside vendor pretended to record a video of the two and threatened to expose the footage. He used the video to manipulate and separate them before sexually assaulting the woman in a secluded spot. He also recorded the incident and threatened to send the footage to the college authorities and his father if she did not agree to his demands. The victim, however, sought support and approached the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station the next day. The accused was arrested on December 25.
Public outrage
The case captured national attention after the FIR of the case was downloaded from the CCTNS website of Tamil Nadu police and broadcast by certain sections of the media. The Madras High court took suo motu cognisance of the issue and transferred the case to a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The SIT, led by Bhukya Sneha Priya, Ayman Jamal, and S Brinda, filed a 100-page chargesheet on February 24 before a magistrate court. The case was later transferred to the Mahila court which declared the verdict.
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