A sexual assault case involving a 19-year-old Anna University student has triggered massive outrage and a political tussle in Tamil Nadu. The incident, which occurred on December 23, saw the victim assaulted and her male friend attacked by two unidentified men on the university campus.
The accused, Gnanasekaran, has been identified as the deputy organiser of the DMK’s Saidai East student wing, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai alleged. BJP leaders further claimed the accused is a “repeat offender” and shared photos of him with prominent DMK figures, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.
The Tamil Nadu Law Minister, S. Regupathi, refuted these allegations, asserting that Gnanasekaran is not even a primary DMK member. Addressing the photographs, the minister said the accused’s proximity to the Deputy CM in the pictures was coincidental and emphasized the swift police action in arresting the suspect within hours.
BJP leader K. Annamalai accused the DMK of shielding criminals affiliated with the party, alleging that the police were pressured to stall investigations in such cases. “This pattern shows how a criminal becomes a DMK member, gains proximity to local leaders, and evades legal scrutiny,” he said in a post on X.
The AIADMK, the primary opposition party, also criticized the DMK, labeling it a “den of anti-social elements.” Leader of the Opposition E. Palaniswami and party spokesperson Kovai Sathyan accused the government of attempting to cover up the incident. Sathyan pointed to non-functional CCTV cameras on the campus as evidence of inadequate security measures.
The police, however, maintained that the arrest was based on available CCTV footage and statements from the victim. Officials revealed that the accused had confessed to the crime and further investigations are underway to ascertain his involvement in past offenses.
In response to the incident, the Greater Chennai Police and university security officials announced plans to undertake a joint review to enhance campus security and prevent future incidents.
The case has reignited debates about safety on educational campuses and the alleged politicization of crime in Tamil Nadu. Protests demanding justice for the victim and stricter security measures continue to grow across the state.
