In a new development in the Anna University campus sexual harassment case, the victim has told the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that the accused, Gnanasekaran, DMK functionary, was speaking on the phone during the assault, addressing someone as “Sir.” The SIT has reportedly identified another history-sheeter from Tiruppur in connection with the accused and is now investigating whether this individual has any ties to the case.
The Anna University campus sexual harassment case, which has sparked widespread outrage in Tamil Nadu, involves Gnanasekaran, who has already been arrested. In her complaint, the victim revealed that during the assault, the accused spoke to a person on the phone and referred to them as “Sir,” although she didn’t know their identity. With Gnanasekaran being the only individual arrested so far, the identity of the person on the other end of the line remains a critical question. This has led to public demands for answers, with opposition parties asking, “Who is that Sir?” A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been tasked with unraveling the mystery.
During their investigation, the SIT spoke to the victim, who reiterated that Gnanasekaran had made threats during the call, saying, “I will come after threatening her.” Authorities suspect the individual on the phone might be from Tiruppur and have a criminal background, leading them to plan an interrogation of this person in the coming days.
On 4 January, the SIT conducted a raid at Gnanasekaran’s residence, recovering crucial documents and a laptop, which investigators suspect was used to upload pornographic material. During their investigation, the team has identified four individuals, including women and students, who appear in some of the videos. Although many pornographic videos were found, only a few have been linked to identifiable victims. Authorities have assured that any victims who come forward will have their identities protected. This new development has added complexity to the case, prompting the SIT to broaden their inquiry into potential further illegal activities.
அண்ணா பல்கலைக்கழக சம்பவத்தில், ஞானசேகரன் வேறொருவரிடம் செல்போனில் பேசியதை உறுதி செய்த மாணவி
ஆபாச வீடியோக்களில் உள்ள
பெண்கள் மற்றும் மாணவிகள்
என 4 பேரை கண்டறிந்துள்ளது
சிறப்பு புலனாய்வு குழுபல ஆபாச வீடியோக்கள் உள்ள நிலையில், சிலரை மட்டும் கண்டறிந்துள்ளது சிறப்பு குழு… pic.twitter.com/bX7YuKEv6f
— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) January 4, 2025
Background
On 23 December 2024, a woman, who was in a two-year relationship with a fellow student, was attacked while spending time with him at a secluded spot on campus.
Two unknown individuals approached the couple, assaulted the boyfriend, and sexually harassed the woman. The assailants forced her to strip, filmed her without consent, threatened her, and fled the scene. The traumatized victim later reported the incident to the Kotturpuram police.
In connection with the case, police have arrested 37-year-old Gnanasekaran, a roadside biryani vendor from Kotturpuram with multiple pending cases against him. The police have filed charges under Section 64 of the BNSS and are actively investigating the matter.
The victim also lodged a complaint with the university’s POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) committee. Meanwhile, the Chennai police, in collaboration with the university, are working to enhance campus security.
However, it came to light that the accused Gnanasekaran is a repeat offender and a DMK functionary. Pictures circulating on social media show him alongside several prominent DMK leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Minister Ma. Subramanian.
FIR Reveals Shocking Details
The shocking details came to light after the All Women Police Station (AWPS) in Raja Annamalai Puram filed the FIR, which reveals a sequence of terrifying events that unfolded on 23 December 2024, within the Anna University campus.
The FIR states that Gnanasekaran filmed the survivor and her boyfriend on the campus before taking things to a terrifying level. He allegedly threatened to leak the footage to the university dean and the couple’s parents unless the student complied with his demands.
He then forcibly took the survivor to a secluded area behind the Highway Lab Building and the Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) department building, where he presented her with three horrifying options: one, to be expelled from the university by the dean based on the footage he threatened to release; two, to “spend time” with him; and three, to “spend time” with another man who had reportedly called the accused before the assault.
The Assault
According to the FIR, after making these threats, Gnanasekaran sexually assaulted the survivor between 7:45 PM and 8:20 PM on 23 December 2024. He also took a picture of her college ID card and extracted her father’s contact information from her phone before fleeing the scene. The survivor, in her written complaint, described how Gnanasekaran had received a phone call from an unknown person, during which he mentioned threatening the girl and leaving her.
The police investigation revealed that Gnanasekaran is no stranger to criminal activity, with seven other pending cases against him, including charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for lurking house-trespass and theft. He has now been charged under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections for rape and sexual harassment.
(With Inputs From Dinamalar)
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