Madras High Court Orders SIT Investigation and Rs 25 Lakh Compensation in Anna University Sexual Assault Case
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New Delhi/Chennai, Dec 28 (NationPress) The Madras High Court has instructed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the purported sexual assault of an Anna University student on Saturday.
The court criticized the Chennai Police for disclosing the details of the FIR on their website, which included the identity of the rape survivor. A Bench comprising Justices S.M. Subramaniam and V. Lakshminarayanan ordered the Tamil Nadu government to provide an interim compensation of Rs. 25 lakh to the victim.
The court clarified that this order does not affect the victim’s entitlement to seek compensation under criminal law.
Additionally, the Madras HC requested the state government to evaluate taking suitable action against the Police Commissioner, who conducted a press conference on the case without obtaining prior permission.
Previously, the Bench led by Justice S.M. Subramaniam chose to address the matter suo motu (on its own) following a letter petition highlighting the safety concerns for women in the state.
The hearing was postponed until December 28, during which the Tamil Nadu government was asked to submit a status report.
In her letter, advocate R Varalakshmi urged that a Special Investigation Committee (SIC) headed by a current woman judge of the Madras HC supervise the inquiry and ensure compliance with legal standards.
She also requested the transfer of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure a thorough and unbiased investigation free from political or institutional influence.
The distressing incident took place when the 19-year-old engineering student from Anna University and her male companion were seated in a secluded area of the university’s campus after attending a midnight Christmas mass at a nearby church.
The accused, Gnanashekaran, allegedly assaulted the male friend before dragging the girl to a nearby shrub and raping her.
The Chennai Police have faced intense scrutiny for their security oversights.
Authorities had previously announced that extensive safety measures were in place for Christmas celebrations, with over 8,000 officers deployed.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP President, K. Annamalai, has asserted that the accused, Gnanashekaran, was not listed in the police's rowdy list despite his involvement in multiple criminal cases.
He claimed this oversight was due to Gnanashekaran’s close connections with DMK leaders and provided proof of the accused’s links to the ruling party.
Annamalai also criticized the police for leaking the FIR related to the sexual assault, which led to the victim's identification.
He alleged that the authorities intentionally disclosed sensitive information and failed to protect the safety and anonymity of the survivor.
Furthermore, Annamalai accused the DMK of trying to distract from the worsening law and order situation in Tamil Nadu by advancing a misleading narrative about a North-South divide.
