
Anna University Sexual Assault Case: Gnanasekar Sentenced to 30 Years of Life Imprisonment Without Remission
Last week, the court held Gnanasekar guilty of offences under 11 provisions, including Section 64(1) (rape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and convicted him under those provisions
On Monday (June 2, 2025), the Mahila Court in Chennai sentenced 37-year-old Gnanasekar, the only person found guilty in the Anna University sexual assault case, to life in prison for at least 30 years without any chance of early release.
Last week, the court held him guilty of offences under 11 provisions, including Section 64(1)(rape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and convicted him under those provisions. The court scheduled the pronouncement of the sentence on Monday.
Gnanasekar was brought to the court campus in a police van from the Central Prison, Puzhal, on Monday, amidst tight security. He was produced before trial court (Mahila Court) judge M. Rajalakshmi.
Reading out the sentence, the judge said: “For the charge under Section 64(1) of the BNS, you are sentenced to life imprisonment for a minimum period of 30 years without remission. Also, a ₹25,000-fine is imposed under this section, and if you default to pay the fine, you will have to undergo simple imprisonment for three months.”
The court gave Gnanasekar separate jail terms ranging from one month to 10 years for different charges. He was also fined under 10 other sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act, and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. All the sentences will run at the same time, and he has to pay a total fine of ₹90,000.
The judge also ordered that the State government pay compensation to the survivor in the case.

What is the case about?
The incident occurred on December 23, 2024, when the survivor, a 19-year-old student, and her friend were out on the Anna University campus. Gnanasekar, who ran a biryani outlet, entered the campus in the evening, blackmailed the duo, and went on to sexually assault the student in a secluded spot. He also videographed the act on his phone, according to the charge sheet.
The Madras High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising women officers, had probed the sexual assault case, which had sparked massive outrage in the State, and had named history-sheeter Gnanasekar as the lone accused.
Gnanasekar was charged under 11 provisions of the law, including Sections 331(6) (lurking trespass by night), 126(2) (wrongfully restraining any person), 140(4) (kidnapping in order to subject a person to grievous hurt), 75(2) (sexual harassment) read with 64(1) (rape), among other provisions of the BNS, Information Technolgy Act, and Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act.