On Wednesday, the court gave a big verdict in a sensational case of sexual harassment with an Anna University student in Chennai. Women’s court accused Biryani seller A. Gyanasekharan is convicted. The prosecution has demanded maximum punishment for him. This is the same case that shook Tamil Nadu in December 2024. It also brought earthquake in political corridors.
The court said that the prosecution on the basis of documentary and forensic evidence. All the 11 allegations against Gyanasekharan have been proved beyond suspicion. Judge Rajalakshmi of the Women’s Court also said that the sentence will be announced on June 2. Reacting to this matter, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said that the victim was given justice in just five months.
He said that quick justice system reflects the efficiency of the state police and judicial process. He praised the police, prosecution and court on social media and said that no matter what the criminal may be, he cannot escape from the law. Taking a dig at the opposition, he said that his derogatory and cheap politics has got a befitting reply. The opposition has also expressed happiness over the decision.
Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) welcomed the decision but also raised many questions. He asked why the accused was released so soon after the first arrest and what happened before arresting again. EPS questioned Gyanasekharan’s alleged relations with DMK leaders. Special Investigating Officer Raghavendra Ravi has also sought clarification regarding the resignation.
Other political parties including BJP and PMK also welcomed the decision. BJP state president Nanar Nagendran said that this is a historic decision. This proves that despite political power and wealth, the criminal cannot escape the law. PMK leader Anbumani Ramdas has demanded that people who helped or provoked this crime should also be punished.
Vijay, the lead actor-royalty of Tamizhaga Vatri Kazhagam, also praised the verdict but criticized the DMK government and said that it highlights their failure on women’s safety. He also added that this decision was possible due to the Madras High Court’s order to speed up the case. Chairman of Dravid Kazhagam K.K. Veeramani has also praised the government and the court.
At the same time, DMK MP Kanimozhi exposed the achievement of convicting the accused in this case in just 157 days and lashed out at the delay in the Polachi case during the previous AIADMK government. The case came to light on 23 December 2024, when the victim lodged a complaint at the All Women Police Station in Kotturapuram. He had alleged that Gyanasekharan sexually assaulted him.
Shortly after the FIR was registered in this case, the accused was arrested. However, the FIR leaked and its broadcast in the media further gave the dispute further. In view of the seriousness of the case, the Madras High Court handed it over to the Special Investigation Team. The SIT filed a charge sheet in February and the case was handed over to the women court. On June 2, everyone is waiting for the decision.