News Tamil Nadu

Anna University Sexual Assault Case: Victim’s Complaint Says Abuser Got A Call From One “Sir” But Chennai City Police Commissioner Says “Accused’s Phone Was On Airplane Mode Whole Time”

December 27, 2024
The Commune

In a case that has raised serious questions about police transparency, Chennai City Police Commissioner A Arun’s recent statements regarding the Anna University sexual assault case have come under scrutiny due to apparent contradictions in the official narrative.

During a press conference at the Commissioner’s office, Arun insisted that the accused, Gnanasekaran, had acted alone in the sexual assault of an Anna University student. He specifically refuted media reports about the involvement of a second person, claiming that Gnanasekaran’s phone was “on airplane mode the whole time” during the incident, making it impossible for him to receive any calls.

However, this statement directly contradicts the victim’s formal complaint and the First Information Report (FIR), which details that during the assault, Gnanasekaran received a phone call from someone referred to as ‘sir’. However, Police Commissioner Arun’s claim that the accused’s phone was in airplane mode throughout the incident contradicts both the technical possibilities and investigative methods – a phone in airplane mode cannot receive calls, nor can it be tracked by law enforcement through cell signals.

Adding another layer of complexity to the case, Commissioner Arun announced that a separate investigation has been launched at the Kotturpuram police station regarding the leak of the FIR on social media. While strongly defending the police department, he suggested the leak might have originated from either the CCTNS portal or “the complainant’s side,” explicitly ruling out police involvement.

The accused, who was arrested on Wednesday morning following Tuesday’s complaint filing, has a significant criminal history with 26 pending cases – 20 within Chennai city limits and six in nearby districts. Commissioner Arun noted that the previous cases, dating from 2013 to 2020, were related to property disputes and petty crimes, with no prior sexual offense charges.

The Kotturpuram police have expanded the charges against Gnanasekaran, adding three more sections to the initial charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including two under the Information Technology Act.

When pressed about the contradictions in the official narrative, Commissioner Arun stated that the investigation is ongoing and that not all information can be revealed at this time. He suggested that the investigation into the FIR details might reveal additional facts in the coming days, leaving many questions unanswered about the accuracy of the police department’s public statements and the true circumstances of the assault.

(With inputs from The Hindu)

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.