Chennai: A 37-year-old biryani vendor has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a female student of Anna University, police announced on Wednesday.
The victim, a student at the College of Engineering, Guindy, reported that the incident occurred on December 23, 2024, around 8 p.m. She was speaking with a male friend behind a campus building when an unknown man allegedly intimidated them and sexually assaulted her.
Following her complaint at the Kotturpuram All Women’s Police Station, a case was registered, and four special teams were formed to investigate the matter, according to a statement from Greater Chennai City Police.
“During the investigation, scientific evidence led to the arrest of Gnanasekaran, a resident of Kottur, a neighborhood near the college,” the police stated. “The suspect, who operates a biryani shop on the pavement, has provided a confessional statement.”
The police further revealed that they are investigating whether he was involved in any other crimes. The probe is ongoing with the assistance of the university’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).
“CCTV cameras have been installed, and security personnel deployed across the university campus,” police stated. They added that measures to enhance student safety will be implemented in coordination with university officials, including a joint security review.
Anna University Registrar J. Prakash stated that the university is fully cooperating with the police investigation, and the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) has also initiated an inquiry. “The university administration is extending complete support to the investigation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) staged a protest outside the state-run university, demanding action. One protester alleged that the student was sexually assaulted “inside the campus by two outsiders.”
The incident has sparked strong political reactions. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami expressed shock, calling it “shameful” that such an act occurred, especially within the premises of the prestigious institution.
The Leader of the Opposition criticized the DMK government, claiming that the incident highlighted a worsening law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. He alleged that women were unsafe in educational institutions and workplaces and demanded the arrest of the perpetrators and the imposition of the highest punishment.
Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhiaan condemned the opposition for “politicizing” the incident. “Swift action is being taken, and the offenders will be brought to justice,” he stated, adding that preventive measures would be implemented at the university level to avoid such incidents in the future.
DMK spokesperson A. Saravanan described the incident as deeply unfortunate and reiterated confidence in the swift response of law enforcement. “An FIR has been registered, and the culprits will be brought to justice. Let’s not confuse these crimes with the broader law and order situation,” he told PTI.
Ruling party allies, including the CPI and CPI(M), also condemned the assault and called for stringent punishment for the offenders. The Marxist party urged the government to take stronger measures against anti-social elements and ensure the safety of women in educational institutions and hostels.
Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai expressed shock, stating that the victim and another student were within the campus when the incident occurred. He alleged that the CCTV cameras were non-functional at the time and criticized the state’s law and order management.
PMK founder S. Ramadoss claimed that under the DMK’s governance, no one except offenders felt safe. “The public is observing everything, and they will hold the DMK government accountable at the appropriate time,” he said.
