The Tamil Nadu Police on Sunday, January 5, invoked the Goondas Act against Gnanasekaran, the accused in the Anna University sexual assault case.
The Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Slum Grabbers, and Video Pirates Act, 1982, commonly known as the Goondas Act, defines a “goonda” as “a member or leader of a gang who habitually commits, attempts to commit, or abets the commission of offences.” Under this Act, an individual can be detained without bail for up to one year.
Gnanasekaran was arrested by the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) on December 25 for allegedly sexually assaulting a female student inside the Anna University campus on December 23. He also allegedly filmed the assault and blackmailed the survivor.
The accused has seven pending cases against him under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including sections 457 (lurking, house trespass, or housebreaking by night to commit an offence) and 380 (theft in a dwelling house). He has now been charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 63(a) (rape), 64(1) (punishment for rape), 75(1)(ii) (sexual harassment), and 75(1)(iii) (sexual harassment).
Following his arrest, photographs of Gnanasekaran with DMK functionaries surfaced. While the DMK initially denied any association with the party, opposition parties released pictures, videos, and newspaper clippings claiming that Gnanasekaran held an office-bearer position in the party.