Court Sentences Anna University Rape Accused Gnanasekaran To Life Imprisonment

The case dates back to December 24, 2023, when a student filed a complaint at the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station

The verdict was delivered by Judge M. Rajalakshmi

Source : Anna University

The Chennai Mahila Court on Monday sentenced A. Gnanasekaran, the sole accused in the high-profile Anna University rape case, to life imprisonment. The court directed that he must serve a minimum of 30 years behind bars without the possibility of early release.

The verdict was delivered by Judge M. Rajalakshmi, just four days after Gnanasekaran was found guilty on all 11 charges framed against him, including rape, under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act, and the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act.

What Is Anna University Case

The case dates back to December 24, 2023, when a student filed a complaint at the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station. She alleged that Gnanasekaran had confronted her while she was with a male friend on the university campus, threatened her, and then raped her. According to the prosecution, he also recorded the assault on his mobile phone.

Following the incident, the identity of the survivor was leaked online, prompting the Madras High Court to step in. On December 26, the court ordered the formation of an all-women Special Investigation Team (SIT) to handle the sensitive case.

The SIT completed its investigation within two months, submitting a detailed 100-page chargesheet on February 24. The case was subsequently transferred to the Mahila Court on March 7, where formal charges were framed under multiple provisions, including those related to criminal trespass, abduction, rape, and cybercrime.

The court’s swift and stringent judgment has been seen as a significant step toward justice in a case that drew widespread public outrage and highlighted concerns around women’s safety on educational campuses.

The assault at Chennai’s premier institution sparked widespread outrage and raised serious concerns about women’s safety on campuses. The incident also led to state-wide protests, with Opposition parties alleging that A. Gnanasekaran had links to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).