A delegation from the Tamil Nadu BJP Mahila Morcha, led by former Telangana Governor Tamil Isai Soundararajan, former NCW member Kushboo Sundar, former MP Sasikala Pushpa, former MLA Vijayadharani, actress Radhika Sarathkumar, and Uma Rathirajan, met with Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on the evening of January 4. The delegation presented a petition demanding justice for the victim of a sexual assault incident at Anna University.
The delegation had initially planned to stage a rally from Madurai to Chennai on January 3, culminating in a meeting with the Governor. However, police intervened, placing several BJP women leaders, including Tamil Isai, Kushboo, Sasikala Pushpa, Uma Rathirajan, and hundreds of cadres, under house arrest. The arrested leaders were later detained in a marriage hall near a flock of goats, causing unbearable foul odor despite requests to be relocated. They were released later in the evening around 6 pm.
The BJP leaders expressed concerns that the authorities had not arrested all the individuals involved, despite the victim’s statement identifying one accused as “Sir.” They demanded a CBI probe to uncover the truth, claiming that under the current DMK regime, women’s safety is compromised. The BJP also questioned why Chief Minister MK Stalin had not responded to the issue yet.
In their four-page memorandum, the BJP leaders detailed the assault that occurred on December 23, involving a second-year female student at Anna University’s Guindy campus. The victim, reportedly blackmailed by an offender who had secretly recorded intimate moments with her and her male friend, was coerced into meeting the accused’s sexual demands. The accused allegedly used the recorded footage to intimidate the couple, leading to the assault.
The memorandum detailed that the victim gained the courage to report the assault to the Chennai police, leading to the filing of an FIR on December 23, 2024. The BJP condemned the DMK government’s delayed response and demanded immediate action to arrest the perpetrators.
Following political pressure, the accused, Gnanasekaran, a 37-year-old street food vendor with a criminal history, was arrested by the Chennai police. The BJP leaders noted that Gnanasekaran, a history-sheeter with over 15 pending cases, including previous sexual assault charges, was also a functionary in the DMK, holding the position of Deputy Operating Secretary of the DMK Students Wing in Saidapet East. Photographs of him with Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin and Health Minister M Subramanian surfaced on social media, raising questions about his political affiliations.
The memorandum also pointed to contradictions in statements made by the Higher Education Minister, Govai Chezhian, and the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner regarding the sequence of events leading up to the filing of the complaint. It was revealed that Gnanasekaran was initially brought in for questioning on December 24 but was released, only to be arrested the following day.
The BJP Mahila Morcha wing emphasized that this incident is part of a recurring pattern of sexual assaults, attributing it to the high-handedness of those in the ruling administration and the apparent disregard shown by the accused for the police department. The delegation called for a CBI investigation, urging the Governor to ensure a fair and thorough probe into the matter.
The petition highlights a series of alleged sexual assault cases involving individuals associated with the DMK party. The incidents include:
These cases raise serious concerns about the involvement of party functionaries in sexual violence incidents.
The petition raised concerns over media reports stating that 14 people had accessed the FIR using an OTP sent to a mobile number. However, the petitioners pointed out that the FIR was filed against only two media entities. They questioned the identities of the remaining 12 individuals who had downloaded the FIR and why no action had been taken against them yet.
The petition called for an immediate audit of how the state government utilized the Nirbhaya Fund allocated by the Central government. It urged the Governor to ensure that the case is investigated impartially and transparently, with justice being served to the victim without delay.
Critics have raised questions about the actions of the male friend of the survivor, questioning why he did not report the incident to the police, or intervene to protect her. They have also asked why he fled the scene and remained silent, highlighting the need for clarity on his motives.
The AIADMK has demanded a CBI probe into the matter, while the Madras High Court has formed a three-member SIT, consisting of female IPS officers, to investigate the incident and the leakage of the FIR, which revealed the survivor’s identity.
Opposition leaders in Tamil Nadu, including AIADMK, PMK, NTK, and actor Joseph Vijay’s TVK, have expressed their concerns regarding the sexual assault. Actor Vijay met Governor Ravi last week to discuss the matter.
The SIT has conducted a raid at the residence of the prime accused, Gnanasekaran, and seized incriminating documents and electronic devices.
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