The day a woman can walk freely on the roads at night, that day we can say that India has achieved independence,” said our beloved Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. However, forget walking freely on the roads—on this 77th anniversary of India’s independence, we must hang our heads in shame as a student has been raped in one of Chennai’s (capital city of Tamil Nadu) most prestigious and world-class universities
On the fateful night of December 23, 2024, at approximately 7:45 PM, a man named Gnanasekaran, who runs a roadside eatery near Anna University, allegedly entered the campus and secretly filmed the intimate moments of the victim with her boyfriend. Unbeknownst to her, this predator would soon turn her life into a nightmare. After attacking her boyfriend, the accused dragged the victim to nearby bushes and threatened her. He demanded that she “cooperate” (i.e., engage in sexual intercourse with him), warning that if she refused, he would leak the intimate footage to her dean and parents. As per a report in the Deccan Herald, the FIR filed on December 24, 2024, the victim recounted how she became ensnared in a vicious cycle of blackmail. The accused had also filmed the alleged assault and used the footage to further threaten her, stating that she would need to comply whenever summoned in the future. He also mentioned a mysterious “sir” during the assault, with whom he appeared to be in contact over the phone. The accused has been booked under Sections 63, 64, and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
As per a report published in The New Indian Express the accused was arrested on 25th December, 2024. However, widespread allegations arose that the FIR, which contained sensitive details such as the victim’s name, father’s name, age, and residence, had been leaked. This sparked a major controversy, leading to a series of dramatic developments in the state. Several opposition leaders called on the state police department to explain the reason behind the leak, alleging that it was a deliberate attempt by the government to discourage potential rape victims from filing complaints. The BJP state leader in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Annamalai, theatrically whipped himself six times and vowed not to wear footwear until the DMK is ousted from power. Meanwhile, the IT wings of both the BJP and the AIADMK (another prominent opposition party in the state) circulated photos of the accused, Gnanasekaran, with DMK party leaders. They alleged that the ruling party was associated with thugs and criminals and was attempting to shield the accused. In response, the DMK leadership clarified that in the era of social media, posing for pictures with individuals is commonplace and should not be misconstrued as an endorsement or association. They reiterated that the accused had been arrested and dismissed allegations of a cover-up as baseless and rooted in imagination.
On December 28, 2024, the Madras High Court ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising three women police officers and awarded an interim compensation of ₹25 lakhs to the victim for the twin traumas—first, the assault of rape, and second, the victim-shaming resulting from the FIR leak. The court strongly condemned the manner in which the FIR was drafted and remarked that women, like men, have desires and the freedom to love or engage in relationships with the person of their choice. Such personal choices, the court emphasized, have no bearing on incidents of this grave nature.
The court also highlighted a serious lapse in campus security, pointing to malfunctioning CCTV cameras and poorly positioned security guards, which allowed unauthorized individuals to gain entry into the university premises.
The National Informatics Centre (NIC) clarified that the FIR leak is due to a technical glitch, and it happened while migrating data from old criminal law (IPC) to New Criminal law (BNS). Again, this has got nothing to do with the state and its ridiculous move by the parliament. Nevertheless, the BJP clown Annamalai went on to demonize the state government by misquoting facts and trying to gain attention as that is all what he needs.
On January 2, 2025, the Madras High Court expressed its anguish over the politicization of the Anna University rape case, stating that such actions lacked genuine concern for justice. Reacting to the court’s observation, BJP leader Annamalai lamented that no one was discussing the accused’s history as a history sheeter, highlighting the plethora of criminal cases pending against him. Annamalai should first get himself educated on the law that previous bad character of the person has got nothing to do with the instant case and moreover it’s the duty of the court to ensure fair trial and it cannot become a recipe for the buffoon’s political attention. Not only him, there are many like Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, former Governor for Telungana and former head of Tamil Nadu BJP unit, Actor turned politician Khushbu Sundar, NTK leader Seeman have engaged in similar publicity stunts, later detained by police authorities.
Rather than using such incidents to settle personal scores, politicians should focus on addressing the root causes of rape. Throughout Indian history, there has been no leader under whose tenure the nation recorded zero rapes. The comparison often boils down to evaluating whose tenure witnessed relatively less deterioration in law and order. Sadly, even after 77 years of independence, we have failed to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi’s vision for a safer and more equitable society.
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