Coimbatore gang-rape: the anatomy of a crime

A detailed account of the Coimbatore gang-rape case, revealing the brutal crime and subsequent police investigation.

The three persons convicted for gang-raping a college student in a deserted area near Coimbatore International Airport on the night of November 2, 2025 had come to the scene of crime after committing another grave offence.

The convicts, T. Karuppasamy alias Satheesh, 30, his brother T. Kaleeswaran alias Karthik, 21, and M. Guna alias Thavasi, 20, had an altercation with a herder, namely M. Devaraj, 55, at Serayampalayam within the jurisdiction of the Kovilpalayam police station around 7.45 p.m. on the same day.

They assaulted Devaraj, allegedly after he questioned them for consuming liquor in an open area. He was found dead at the spot on November 6.

“They were not sure whether Devaraj died on the spot. They fled the spot after the assault. They came to the ground near Brindhavan Nagar, on a stolen moped, to consume alcohol,” said a police officer.

The trio targeted the college student and her boyfriend, when they were sitting in his car on the ground around 10.50 p.m. and were about to leave.

Guna smashed the glass on the side of the driver’s seat and Karuppasamy struck the front windscreen with a machete. When Karuppasamy pressed the weapon on the youth’s neck, he tried to block with hands, injuring his palms. As the youth got out of the car, the trio assaulted him and took away his mobile phone.