A sexual assault case at Anna University in Chennai has turned the political landscape in Tamil Nadu into a contentious issue. The BJP claimed that Gnanasekaran, who has been accused of the crime, is an ally of the DMK and has a previous record of such offenses. Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai posted pictures of Gnanasekaran with some top DMK leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is MK Stalin’s son.
Annamalai has said that Gnanasekaran is the deputy organizer of the Saidai East student wing of the DMK, which sets an alarming trend in such crimes happening all over the state. He claimed that criminal elements were being inducted into the DMK, where local party functionaries were protecting them to help them go scot-free. “All cases against him are being shelved, and he is released without being flagged as a criminal,” Annamalai stated on X, emphasizing the implications of political influence on law enforcement.
He expressed outrage over the incident, saying, “This cruelty has happened to an innocent student because someone with a record of 15 sexual crimes has faced no consequences.” He questioned the effectiveness of the law in Tamil Nadu, asking, “Is there a law that shields members of the ruling party from prosecution?”
The main opposition party, AIADMK, intensified its criticism of the DMK government. E. Palaniswami, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, described the incident as evidence that the ruling party has become a refuge for anti-social elements. He mocked the government’s explanation regarding non-functional CCTVs at the university, likening it to an excuse of “ants ate the sugar, termites ate the sack.”
Palaniswami condemned the current regime for converting educational institutions into breeding grounds for crime, questioning the police failure to act against Gnanasekaran despite his criminal antecedents. “Why did the police not arrest him? Is it because he is linked to the ruling DMK?” he asked.
The DMK has strongly denied the charges, saying that taking photographs with party leaders does not amount to conspiracy. A Saravanan, a DMK spokesperson, reacted to the allegations saying, “If someone has committed a crime, the law will act. Gnanasekaran has been arrested; he cannot escape justice.” He criticized the opposition for trying to politicize the issue and said that even DMK people were not spared by the courts.
From reports, the incident involved an incident with a second-year student on campus who claimed that someone sexually molested her while she had a conversation with a friend; this unidentified man threatened and allegedly sexually assaulted her, and Gnanasekaran, 37 has confessed to the crime.
