Is there a need for an inquiry into Annamalai’s claims regarding the Anna University sexual assault case?

Chennai, June 21 (NationPress) A writ petition has been submitted to the Madras High Court requesting a directive for the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Inspector of Kotturpuram Police Station to initiate an investigation into the claims made by former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai regarding his possession of call records associated with the Anna University sexual assault incident.

This criminal writ petition, filed by Advocate M.L. Ravi, who leads the Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi, has been assigned a number and is anticipated to be heard by Justice P. Velmurugan later this week.

As per the petitioner, a female engineering student was raped on the Anna University campus in Chennai on December 23, 2024, by a biryani vendor named D. Gnanasekaran.

The victim alleged that Gnanasekaran confronted her while she was with her boyfriend, threatened to report her to college officials, and coerced her into sexual submission.

Significantly, the victim claimed that during the assault, Gnanasekaran made a phone call, addressing the person on the other end as “sir.” This suggestion of potential involvement from another individual prompted widespread political calls, particularly from Opposition parties, for the revelation of the alleged “sir’s” identity.

However, the Chennai Police contended that Gnanasekaran acted independently and had only pretended to make a call, reportedly keeping his mobile device in flight mode to mislead the victim.

In contrast, Annamalai consistently stated during his tenure as BJP state president that he had access to the accused’s call records, which purportedly contained more details about the case than what was publicly known.

He hinted at the possibility that others might have been involved in the crime. Despite these assertions, the police did not summon or question Annamalai regarding the evidence he claimed to possess.

The petitioner argued that this oversight constituted negligence, especially since he had formally brought the matter to the authorities' attention in February 2025. The police subsequently filed a charge sheet solely against Gnanasekaran.

After a swift trial, the Mahila Court in Chennai convicted Gnanasekar on May 28, 2025, and handed down a sentence on June 2, 2025. Even post-conviction, Annamalai reportedly maintained that he had access to records implying the involvement of others.

Subsequently, the petitioner filed a formal complaint with the police on May 31, 2025, urging an investigation into Annamalai’s claims and to ascertain if a third party — the enigmatic “sir” — was indeed tied to the assault.

Now, the petitioner is seeking the court's directive to ensure that a First Information Report (FIR) is filed and that a comprehensive investigation is conducted based on his complaint.