Tamil Nadu Minister S Regupathy has denied any links between the accused in the Anna University sexual assault case and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Addressing a press conference on Thursday, December 26, the Minister said that the accused, Gnanasekaran, was not a member of DMK as had been suggested by some media reports earlier. “He is not even a primary party member,” he said. Referring to a picture of the accused Gnanasekaran and Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin, Minister Regupathy said, “If you see the photograph, you will know. The Deputy Chief Minister is walking away; there is a gap in between.”
The Minister who handles Law, Courts, Prisons, and Prevention of Corruption portfolios, said that it is common for people to take such photographs. “We cannot prevent people from taking pictures or selfies when we move in public spaces because phones with cameras are used widely. So, anyone can take pictures from anywhere,” he added.
Soon after Gnanasekaran’s arrest on the evening of December 25, allegations of him having links to the ruling party emerged as several pictures of him with DMK party leaders surfaced.
Pointing to another viral photograph where Gnanasekaran can be seen shaking hands with the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ma Subramanian, Regupathy said it was common for the public from Saidapet constituency to personally thank the minister for his work. “Someone from the crowd could have come and felicitated him with a shawl, and they could have clicked a picture. No one can stop anyone from doing so,” he said.
“I wish to therefore clarify that Gnanasekaran and we [DMK] have no connections,” Regupathy added.
Meanwhile, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) IT wing chief Kovai Sathyan took to X and shared invitations to various DMK events this year where Gnanasekaran’s name has been added as an office bearer. He reportedly was the east region deputy organiser of the DMK’s student wing.
Gnanasekaran was arrested on charges of rape after a student of Anna University complained of sexual assault on campus. He is accused of filming a couple on Anna University's campus on December 23. He had used the footage to blackmail and threaten the students. He also sexually assaulted the girl before fleeing the scene.
The Greater Chennai Police said that Gnanasekaran is a repeat offender and has seven cases pending against him. He has now been booked 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) for sexually assaulting a student of Anna University.