A Mahila Court in Chennai on Wednesday convicted 37-year-old Gnanasekaran in the December 2024 sexual assault case that took place on the campus of Anna University.
The court found him guilty on all 11 charges, including rape, illegal confinement, and criminal intimidation, after he assaulted a 19-year-old engineering student in a secluded part of the university.
The conviction came five months after the crime and followed an intense investigation that included scrutiny of CCTV footage, survivor testimony, and previous criminal records.
The Madras High Court also stepped in during the proceedings, ordering a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident and criticising the university and local authorities for lapses in campus security.
A crime that shook Anna University
Gnanasekaran, a roadside biryani vendor with a long criminal history—including 15 previous cases of theft, robbery, and a past sexual assault on the same campus in 2011—was found to have entered the university premises unnoticed.
On the night of December 23, 2024, he allegedly filmed the survivor and her male friend without consent, chased the friend away, and then raped the woman. He also reportedly threatened her into future compliance and took her contact details.
The case laid bare serious failures in campus safety at one of Tamil Nadu's most prominent educational institutions. Non-functional CCTV cameras, inadequate security presence, and the free entry of outsiders into the campus became key points of concern.
Following the court’s conviction, Anna University was ordered to ensure the survivor’s education continued without financial burden.
But what began as a horrific case of sexual violence soon escalated into a high-pitched political battle between the ruling DMK and the opposition BJP.
BJP targets DMK, alleges political links to accused
The Tamil Nadu BJP, led by state president K. Annamalai, seized upon the case to question the DMK’s commitment to women’s safety. The BJP accused the ruling party of fostering a culture of impunity and linked the accused to the DMK’s student wing, even sharing photos that allegedly showed Gnanasekaran with top DMK leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Health Minister M. Subramanian.
While the DMK denied these claims and called the accusations baseless, the BJP continued its campaign, staging protests across the state and using the incident to highlight what it described as a breakdown of law and order under DMK rule. The BJP’s women’s wing organised rallies from Madurai to Chennai, many of which ended in police detentions.
The opposition also slammed the DMK over the leak of the FIR and the perceived shaming of the survivor, which drew strong criticism from the Madras High Court. The court expressed concern over how sensitive information was handled and pressed for institutional accountability.
DMK under pressure as 2026 elections loom
Though the DMK denied any organisational link to the accused, the case placed the ruling party on the defensive. The backlash extended to the handling of campus security and the broader safety of women under the state government’s watch.
The incident also exposed political vulnerabilities within the DMK, particularly around its youth wing and internal governance mechanisms. Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, seen as a rising face of the party and a likely key player in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, came under direct political fire.
As the case gained national attention, other political forces, including the AIADMK and actor Vijay’s party TVK, joined the opposition chorus. The incident since became a major talking point in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, framing the debate over governance, law enforcement, and women’s rights ahead of the next state election.
The sentencing of the accused in the case has been set for June 2, 2025.
(With inputs from agencies)
The court found him guilty on all 11 charges, including rape, illegal confinement, and criminal intimidation, after he assaulted a 19-year-old engineering student in a secluded part of the university.
The conviction came five months after the crime and followed an intense investigation that included scrutiny of CCTV footage, survivor testimony, and previous criminal records.
The Madras High Court also stepped in during the proceedings, ordering a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident and criticising the university and local authorities for lapses in campus security.
A crime that shook Anna University
Gnanasekaran, a roadside biryani vendor with a long criminal history—including 15 previous cases of theft, robbery, and a past sexual assault on the same campus in 2011—was found to have entered the university premises unnoticed.
On the night of December 23, 2024, he allegedly filmed the survivor and her male friend without consent, chased the friend away, and then raped the woman. He also reportedly threatened her into future compliance and took her contact details.
The case laid bare serious failures in campus safety at one of Tamil Nadu's most prominent educational institutions. Non-functional CCTV cameras, inadequate security presence, and the free entry of outsiders into the campus became key points of concern.
Following the court’s conviction, Anna University was ordered to ensure the survivor’s education continued without financial burden.
But what began as a horrific case of sexual violence soon escalated into a high-pitched political battle between the ruling DMK and the opposition BJP.
BJP targets DMK, alleges political links to accused
The Tamil Nadu BJP, led by state president K. Annamalai, seized upon the case to question the DMK’s commitment to women’s safety. The BJP accused the ruling party of fostering a culture of impunity and linked the accused to the DMK’s student wing, even sharing photos that allegedly showed Gnanasekaran with top DMK leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Health Minister M. Subramanian.
While the DMK denied these claims and called the accusations baseless, the BJP continued its campaign, staging protests across the state and using the incident to highlight what it described as a breakdown of law and order under DMK rule. The BJP’s women’s wing organised rallies from Madurai to Chennai, many of which ended in police detentions.
The opposition also slammed the DMK over the leak of the FIR and the perceived shaming of the survivor, which drew strong criticism from the Madras High Court. The court expressed concern over how sensitive information was handled and pressed for institutional accountability.
DMK under pressure as 2026 elections loom
Though the DMK denied any organisational link to the accused, the case placed the ruling party on the defensive. The backlash extended to the handling of campus security and the broader safety of women under the state government’s watch.
The incident also exposed political vulnerabilities within the DMK, particularly around its youth wing and internal governance mechanisms. Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, seen as a rising face of the party and a likely key player in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, came under direct political fire.
As the case gained national attention, other political forces, including the AIADMK and actor Vijay’s party TVK, joined the opposition chorus. The incident since became a major talking point in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, framing the debate over governance, law enforcement, and women’s rights ahead of the next state election.
The sentencing of the accused in the case has been set for June 2, 2025.
(With inputs from agencies)
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