Anna University sexual assault case accused Gnanasekaran found guilty by Chennai court

Accused Gnanasekaran, a Biryani hawker in Kottur, was arrested in December last year by the Tamil Nadu police.

A Chennai court on Wednesday convicted a 37-year-old man for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old student after trespassing on the prestigious Anna University campus in December 2024. The assault at Chennai’s premier institution triggered concerns over women’s safety and state-wide protests, with the Opposition parties claiming the convict Gnanasekaran was linked to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

The sexual abuse incident inside the campus of Chennai's Anna University, which took place in December last year, triggered massive protests as well. (ANI)

Judge Rajalakshmi of Chennai’s Mahila Court found Gnanasekaran guilty as it accepted a Madras high court-appointed all-women Special Investigation Team’s report. The quantum of sentence was not pronounced immediately.

DMK hails speedy verdict

The DMK hailed the speedy verdict within five months, saying it showed the government’s commitment to protecting women. “The accused was arrested within 24 hours after the crime was reported. A charge sheet was filed within 60 days on February 24. The government gathered strong evidence...the court found the accused guilty within five months. Our government will not tolerate crimes against women,” said DMK leader RS Bharathi.

Opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader Edappadi Palaniswami said its state-wide protests led to speedy conviction in the case. He added that some important questions remained unanswered. “You cannot get away with half justice. We will ensure that others involved in the crime are also punished,” he said in a post on X.

The AIADMK campaigned for justice in the case, asking: “Who is that, Sir?” In her complaint to the police, the student said that Gnanasekaran spoke to someone over the phone, addressing him as ‘sir’ and pretending to take instructions from him.

Chennai Police commissioner A Arun clarified that Gnanasekaran had put his phone on airplane mode and pretended to speak to someone, referring to him as “sir” to intimidate the student. He said there was no other suspect in the case.

The AIADMK continued the "sir campaign". It brought placards to the state assembly asking: “Who is that, sir?” The AIADMK maintained Gnanasekaran was linked with the DMK, citing his photos posing with DMK ministers. Chief minister MK Stalin clarified that Gnanasekaran was a DMK supporter but not a member and promised justice in the case.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader K Annamalai, who whipped himself six times to protest against the assault, accused the Tamil Nadu Police of leaking the student’s identity. He released pictures of the accused posing with deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and minister M Subramanian. He called Gnanasekaran a repeat offender and a DMK functionary. The DMK denied the claim, saying anyone can click a picture with government functionaries.

AIADMK and BJP workers, including former Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, protested outside the campus and district collectorates.

The assault forced Anna University to deploy more security personnel and CCTVs on campus to strengthen security. The police and the university also conducted a joint security audit.

The high court, which took a suo motu cognisance of the case, directed the state government to pay ₹25 lakh compensation to the 19-year-old student and Anna University to sponsor her education for failing to ensure her safety.

The First Information Report filed in the case said that Gnanasekaran forced the student to perform “sexual acts”. Gnanasekaran, who worked as a vendor near the university, faced 20 other cases and was convicted in six of them related to petty crimes such as theft and housebreaking.

The student told police that Gnanasekaran emerged from behind after having recorded private moments with her friend on his mobile phone. He threatened to leak the video and send it to her father and the college authorities. Gnanasekaran threatened and first physically assaulted the student’s friend, a third-year student.

The student begged Gnanasekaran not to leak the video. Gnanasekaran took her friend away, asking her to wait at the same place. He then took the 19-year-old to a secluded spot about 200 metres away and sexually assaulted her. Gnanasekaran also took photos of her ID card, father’s number, and asked her to keep meeting him, failing which he said he would release her videos.