Anna University Sexual Assault Case: Chennai Court Awards Life Term Without Remission To Accused Gnanasekar

The Mahila Court in Chennai on Monday (2 June 2025) sentenced Gnanasekar, 37, the lone convict in the Anna University sexual assault case, to life imprisonment for a minimum of 30 years without remission under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

As reported by The Hindu, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 under Section 64(1) of the BNS (rape), failing which Gnanasekar would face an additional three months of simple imprisonment. Judge M Rajalakshmi of the Mahila Court also directed the Tamil Nadu government to provide compensation to the survivor.

Gnanasekar was convicted last week under 11 sections, including charges of rape, sexual harassment, kidnapping, trespass, and cybercrime, framed under the BNS, Information Technology Act, and Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. In addition to the life sentence, he received separate sentences ranging from one month to 10 years under various sections, to run concurrently. The total fine imposed across all charges amounts to Rs 90,000.

The crime occurred on 23 December 2024, when Gnanasekar — a local biryani vendor with a known criminal record — entered the Anna University campus, blackmailed a 19-year-old student and her friend, and went on to sexually assault the student in a secluded area. He also recorded the act on his phone, according to the charge sheet.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising women officers, appointed by the Madras High Court, had probed the case. The incident sparked massive outrage across Tamil Nadu, drawing attention to campus safety and criminal lapses.