Anna University rape case: Police call media reports on probe unsubstantiated, false
Tamil Nadi Director General of Police (DGP) Shankar Jiwal has denied media reports that the accused in the Anna University sexual assault case was in contact with a University authority. In a statement released on January 4, he added that reports of a second accused being identified from Tiruppur are false. The police also denied the seizure of certain electronic evidence of obscene content regarding the survivor.
The DGP’s statement said, “Some news channels and social media platforms have telecast/published certain information in the public domain commenting on the progress in the investigation by the SIT. These unsubstantiated claims say that survivor has given statements before the SIT alleging that the accused was in ‘contact with a sir’ [in Anna University]; that the SIT has seized electronic evidence of obscene content regarding the survivor and that a person from Tiruppur has also been identified as accused in the case.”
Denying these claims, the statement said, “It is to clarify that SIT or any other competent authority has not issued any statements or comments to any individual or media about the progress of investigation of the cases. The information and contents being circulated in the public domain about the developments and progress of the investigation of the cases by SIT is completely false and without any basis,” adding, “The baseless and speculative information about the investigation of the cases by SIT not only creates confusion among the public but also has the potential to adversely affect the free and fair investigation process.”
A second year BTech student at Anna University was sexually assaulted on campus on December 23, allegedly by a man identified as Gnanasekaran. He is also accused of filming the assault and blackmailing the survivor.
The case came to light on December 24. The First Information Report (FIR) containing identification details of the survivor was uploaded to the Tamil Nadu police website and made available for public view. The FIR copy of crimes that are sensitive in nature – such as sexual offences, offences pertaining to insurgency, terrorism, or offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act – cannot be made available for public view. Greater Chennai City Police Commissioner A Arun attributed the leak to technical glitches.
On December 28, the Madras High Court ordered the constitution of an SIT composed of women IPS officers to investigate both the sexual assault and the FIR leak. According to media reports, the bench comprising justices SM Subramaniam and V Lakshminarayan ordered the SIT probe while hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate R Varalakshmi.
The SIT comprises Bhukya Sneha Priya, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Anna Nagar; Ayman Jamal, DCP (Law and Order), Avadi; and S Brinda, DCP, Salem City (North).
The court ordered the Tamil Nadu government to pay Rs 25 lakh as an interim compensation to the survivor for the trauma caused by the FIR leak. It also directed Anna University to provide free education and boarding facilities to support her academic pursuits.