The prime accused in the Anna University sexual assault case, involving a first-year engineering student, has a history of criminal activities, including abduction and cash extortion. In 2018, during the AIADMK regime, he was arrested along with his two wives and mother. The accused is also alleged to have encroached on temple lands and constructed a multi-storey house on the illegally acquired property.
It took a sexual assault case for the Govt to find out the land on which the criminal's house built is belonging to a Temple!
How had he managed to build a three storied house keeping the authorities concerned in the dark?pic.twitter.com/ZzZ1QLLSyN
— Ethirajan Srinivasan 🇮🇳🚩 (@Ethirajans) January 8, 2025
The High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has launched a probe into temple land encroachments. Following this, a joint operation by the HR&CE and Revenue Department conducted a survey, confirming that the accused had encroached on land belonging to the Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple. Authorities have initiated action to reclaim the illegally occupied property.
கோயில் சொத்துக்கள்
கொடூரக்காரர்கள் கையிலா??
பக்தர்கள் அதிர்ச்சி!!கோட்டூர்புரம் வெங்கடேச பெருமாள் கோயில் நிலத்தை ஆக்கிரமித்து வீடு கட்டியுள்ள பா**யல் குற்றவாளி ஞானசேகரன்!!
கோயில் நிலங்களை மீட்டுள்ளதாக மார்தட்டிக்கொள்ளும் அறநிலையத்துறை அமைச்சர் இதற்கு பதில் சொல்வாரா??
கோயில்… pic.twitter.com/SeAO6jhgYm
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) January 7, 2025
D. Gnanasekaran, the prime accused in the December 23 rape of a student on the Anna University campus, was previously arrested in 2018 for kidnapping and extortion.
In 2016, Gnanasekaran lived in Pakkam village near Uthiramerur, where he was involved in stealing cars and forging documents to sell them in other states. His criminal activities escalated in July 2018 when he abducted Balachandran, a tiles showroom partner, and demanded a ransom of Rs 25 lakh from his family.
The family initially paid Rs 12 lakh, but Gnanasekaran refused to release the victim, demanding the remaining amount. Acting on a complaint, police rescued Balachandran during a sting operation near Melmaruvathur. They arrested Gnanasekaran’s mother and two wives, who had accompanied him, and recovered Rs 5 lakh and a fake gun from the scene.
Molester Gnanashekar didn't molest anyone during the AIADMK rule. He and his family were arrested during 2018 in a kidnap case.
Only in this DMK he became a serial molester because of his DMK links.
அதிமுக ஆட்சியில் கடத்தல் குற்றத்திற்கு கைதான் ஞானசேகர். #யார்_அந்த_SIR pic.twitter.com/HXFyc9ghFl
— Kovai Sathyan (@KovaiSathyan) December 31, 2024
The ruling DMK has distanced itself from D. Gnanasekaran, the prime accused in the Anna University rape case, claiming he is not a party functionary. However, the AIADMK and other opposition parties have highlighted evidence suggesting otherwise.
Publicly available photographs and party documents identify Gnanasekaran as a deputy organizer for the Saidapet area, contradicting DMK leaders’ official denials. His close ties with senior leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Minister Ma. Subramanian has fueled allegations of political interference in legal proceedings.
AIADMK leaders have questioned how a man with a criminal record, including a 2018 arrest and a history sheet, could gain proximity to top DMK leaders, often seen walking and posing for photographs with them. They also raised concerns about how someone with such a background was allowed to roam freely without scrutiny.
மற்ற மாநிலங்களில் பெண்கள் உரிமை & பாதுகாப்பு குறித்து பொங்கியெழும் @KanimozhiDMK, @Udhaystalin @Subramanian_ma ஆகியோர் இந்த சம்பவத்தில் மௌனம் சாதிக்கிறார்கள். பெண்களுக்கான உரிமை பேசுவது உங்கள் வசதிக்காக மட்டுமா? குற்றவாளிகள் திமுகவினர் என்றால் மௌனமா? #ShameOnYouStalin pic.twitter.com/m02hdGuxSl
— யுவராஜ் தாமோதரன் (@YUVARAJDHAMODHA) December 26, 2024
During the Assembly session on January 8, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin stated, “I assure you that the accused in the Anna University case is not a DMK member. However, we won’t deny that he is a DMK sympathizer.”
BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan questioned the extent of influence a sympathizer could wield, asking, “If a sympathizer can campaign in Lok Sabha polls and stand close to top DMK leaders, what would happen if he were a party member?”
The Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes on January 6, as AIADMK members were evicted after raising the Anna University case. The BJP also staged a walkout, demanding clarity from the DMK government.
Contradicting Stalin’s statement, DMK organizing secretary R.S. Bharathi admitted that the accused, D. Gnanasekaran, is a party member and stated that the party is taking steps to expel him. The conflicting statements have intensified opposition allegations of political interference in the case.
— AYNAGUS ANHSIRK 🚩🇮🇳 (@Dr_Suganya_) January 8, 2025
D. Gnanasekaran, exploiting his third wife’s employment at Anna University, gained unrestricted access to the campus, where he sexually assaulted a first-year engineering student. He recorded the assault and threatened to release the footage to further coerce the victim. There are reports suggesting he may have assaulted another girl in a similar manner just a week prior.
Allegations have surfaced that DMK circle secretary Shanmugam intervened to delay Gnanasekaran’s arrest, raising concerns about attempts to shield him from prosecution.
Gnanasekaran faces over 14 criminal cases, including molestation, trespassing, and theft, with six resulting in convictions. He is reported to have targeted vulnerable individuals, including women at Anna University and the daughter of a government official.
In related developments, two cases related to the leak of the FIR of the rape incident, registered by the Kottupuram all-women police station, have been transferred to the SIT formed by the High Court, which has launched a probe into both cases.
In a post on December 31, the National Commission for Women (NCW) stated, “To ensure accountability, the NCW assessed security at Anna University, met the SIT, and engaged stakeholders, including NGOs and students. A detailed report with actionable recommendations was prepared. The safety of students remains non-negotiable.”
Speaking to the media at Chennai airport, Mamta Kumari, a member of the NCW’s two-member fact-finding committee, detailed their investigation. “We visited every corner of Anna University, met the affected girl and her family, and gathered necessary information. We also met with the Governor of Tamil Nadu to discuss the matter,” she said. Kumari added that a comprehensive report would be submitted to the Central government and assured strict punishment for those found guilty. Criticizing the lack of prior action, she remarked, “It is shocking that despite having over 20 cases against him, the accused was allowed to roam free.”
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu BJP Women’s Wing announced a protest march from Madurai to Chennai on January 3, but leaders were either placed under house arrest or detained. Office-bearers of the Mahila Morcha met Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi and submitted a memorandum demanding action.
TN BJP Chief K. Annamalai condemned the Tamil Nadu Police for leaking the FIR in the sexual assault case, accusing them of intentionally exposing the 19-year-old victim’s identity. He called for accountability and justice for the victim.
M Anbarasan, a 38-year-old police constable from Vellore Rural Police Station, has been suspended for posting a comment on Facebook that supported criticism of the government regarding the Anna University sexual assault case.
A #police constable attached to the #Vellore Taluk police station was suspended for his alleged remarks on social media against the #TamilNadu government in its handling of the #AnnaUniversity sexual assault case.https://t.co/umXFfhLzQ4
— The Hindu – Chennai (@THChennai) January 1, 2025
On January 29, Greater Chennai Police arrested Prathees, a resident of Kanyakumari, and registered a case against an unidentified elderly woman for a video showing her throwing a slipper at a poster of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on a Chennai Metro Rail pillar in Virugambakkam. Special teams have been formed to track down the woman.
Reports suggest that police have been targeting social media critics of the Chief Minister, his family, the government, and minority leaders, arresting them in midnight operations and treating them harshly, likening their actions to that of terrorists.
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