Gnanasekaran, a habitual criminal, was detained on Wednesday after being accused of assaulting a second-year engineering student on the Anna University campus. The 37-year-old man, who has already been convicted in six criminal cases and is implicated in 14 others, also reportedly possesses video recordings of five additional women. Known for his multiple marriages, Gnanasekaran’s access to the university campus was facilitated by his third wife, who works as a contract sanitation employee at the institution.
Following the incident, controversy erupted regarding the leak of the FIR. Chennai’s Police Commissioner A Arun clarified that FIRs for sensitive crimes like rape are usually restricted on the Crime and Criminal Tracking Networking System (CCTNS). However, this particular FIR was not blocked as it should have been. He warned that anyone caught possessing or disseminating the FIR, which reveals the survivor’s identity, would face legal consequences.
The police acted quickly, apprehending Gnanasekaran within a day of the report being filed. Arun emphasized that the police would not be influenced by the suspect’s possible political connections. A separate investigation has been launched to determine the source of the leaked FIR. To enhance security, Anna University will now be under heightened patrol, with law enforcement regularly monitoring the area.
In addition, four more charges have been added to the FIR against Gnanasekaran.
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