The brutal 2024 assault case ends with a 30-year sentence, a Mahila Court trial, and ₹25 lakh compensation for the victim. Justice delivered amid calls for campus safety.
On June 2, 2025, Gnanasekaran, a 37-year-old vendor, was sentenced to 30 years in prison without remission by Chennai’s Mahila Court for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old Anna University student in December 2024. The court, known for expediting gender-based violence cases, convicted him on 11 charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, IT Act, and Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. The 30-year sentence without remission is rare, reflecting the crime’s severity, while the Mahila Court’s involvement ensured a focused, women-centric judicial process. The ₹25 lakh compensation was awarded due to a leaked FIR by police, which exposed the victim’s identity, causing her immense trauma—a move to penalize systemic negligence.
The assault saw Gnanasekaran break into the campus, assault the student’s companion, drag her into bushes, and record the act to blackmail her. The case, investigated by a Special Investigation Team, led to a charge sheet in February 2025. The FIR leak drew sharp criticism from the Madras High Court, which also ordered the state to cover the victim’s education costs at Anna University, highlighting institutional failures.
Widespread protests followed the incident, with students demanding better campus security, including improved lighting and stricter access controls. On June 3, 2025, the verdict continues to fuel discussions on women’s safety, with activists calling for broader reforms to prevent such tragedies in educational institutions.
