A Chennai court on Monday sentenced 37-year-old Gnanasekaran to life imprisonment for s*xually assaulting a 19-year-old Anna University student in December 2024. The judge, M Rajalakshmi, ruled that he must serve at least 30 years in prison without any chance of early release, calling the crime extremely serious.
Last Wednesday, the court found Gnanasekaran guilty under multiple laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Information Technology Act, and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. He was brought to court from Puzhal Central Prison for the sentencing.
According to the police FIR, Gnanasekaran, a vendor near the university with a criminal record of 20 cases (including six convictions), secretly recorded private moments of the student and her male friend. He then threatened to leak the video unless they followed his demands.
He assaulted the male friend and took the female student to a nearby isolated area, where he s*xually assaulted her. He also photographed her college ID and noted her father’s contact number, threatening to release the video if she didn’t continue meeting him.
The incident sparked widespread protests across Tamil Nadu and raised concerns about women’s safety on campuses. The ruling DMK party, which had faced criticism over Gnanasekaran’s alleged political links, welcomed the swift judgment.
DMK leader RS Bharathi said, “Gnanasekaran was arrested within 24 hours after the crime was reported. A charge sheet was filed within 60 days, and the court found the accused guilty within five months. It shows the government’s commitment to protecting women.”
