Anna University sexual assault case: Charge sheet filed against Gnanasekaran

The all-woman Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Madras High Court, has filed a charge sheet against Gnanasekaran, the sole accused in the Anna University sexual assault case.

The all-woman Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Madras High Court, has filed a charge sheet against Gnanasekaran, the sole accused in the Anna University sexual assault case. Sources in the Police department said the charge sheet was filed before a Metropolitan Magistrate Court in the city.

On December 23, 2024, an engineering student of the university was sexually assaulted, allegedly by Gnanasekaran, on the campus when she was out with her friend.

According to the First information Report (FIR) registered under Sections 63(a), 64(1), 75(i)(ii), and 75(i)(iii) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the accused, a resident of Kotturpuram, threatened the survivor, recorded videos of her, and took photos of her ID card. It was later found that the accused was a history-sheeter.

Subsequently, the Madras High Court suo motu ordered the constitution of the SIT, comprising IPS officers Bhukya Sneha Priya (serving as Anna Nagar Deputy Commissioner in Chennai), Ayman Jamal (Avadi Deputy Commissioner), and S. Brinda (Salem City Deputy Commissioner), to probe the case. The court also directed the team to investigate another case linked to the crime, registered by the cybercrime wing of the police, pertaining to the leak of the FIR, revealing the survivor’s identity.

After the investigation, the police team filed the charge sheet/final report before the magistrate court at the Saidapet Court complex, along with evidence (document and electronic evidence) and witnesses, said sources. The court may take the charge sheet on file and issue summons to the accused. After serving copies of the charge sheet, the court will commit the case to a Sessions Court for trial.

Gnanasekaran was remanded back in judicial custody on Monday (February 24, 2025) after the completion of a three-day custodial interrogation by the Pallikaranai police in connection with seven theft cases.

He was produced before a magistrate court in Alandur. During custodial interrogation, he allegedly confessed that he had stolen vehicles, including a car and autorickshaw, from houses in Chennai between 2019 and 2024. He had targeted locked homes that did not have CCTV cameras between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., the police said.