Anna University sexual assault case: Stalin welcomes sentencing, Palaniswami raises questions about probe

Anna University sexual assault case: Stalin welcomes sentencing, Palaniswami raises questions about probe

Welcoming the Chennai trial court’s sentencing of the lone convict in the Anna University sexual assault case to life imprisonment, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday (June 2, 2025) said that the State police force had given a fitting response to those who were theatrical about women’s safety.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, however, questioned why the alleged involvement of another individual (an unnamed person whom Opposition parties claim is linked to the case) was ruled out during the investigation. He added that answers to such questions would emerge when the AIADMK returns to power.

Reacting to the sentencing, the Chief Minister said in a social media post, wrote: “We have secured severe punishment for the accused by swiftly completing the investigation in the Chennai student case within five months, which was praised by the High Court.” He added that the Mahila Court had also appreciated the role played by the police in the case.

Mr. Stalin contended that the verdict had demolished the efforts of “small-minded people” who sought political gain from a case involving a young woman. Recalling a recent legislation introduced by the government to impose stringent punishment for sexual offences, the Chief Minister welcomed the court’s judgment awarding rigorous imprisonment without any relaxation, including remission.

Meanwhile, Mr. Palaniswami, in his social media post, said a “DMK sympathiser” has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Mahila Court. “The DMK government undertook several attempts to protect the accused Gnanasekar in this case,” Mr. Palaniswami claimed, and contended it was the AIADMK, with its unrelenting efforts, that made the conviction and sentencing possible.

“We have been fulfilling our promise to this day, that the AIADMK would continue to be the voice of the affected student. And so, we continue to ask even today, ‘Who is that Sir?, so that she gets justice in its entirety,” Mr. Palaniswami said. He further asked: “Who was the ‘Sir’ mentioned in the FIR? And why was his involvement ruled out during the probe? Why did the DMK government attempt to conclude that Gnanasekar was the only individual involved in this case?”

The Leader of Opposition further stated: “These questions would not remain unanswered for long. There would be answers to them all, when the AIADMK comes to power.”