Connect with us
Tuesday,28-July-2026
Breaking News

Crime

Anna University sexual assault case: Accused found guilty, sentencing on June 2

Published

on

Chennai, May 28: Nearly five months after the sexual assault of a student inside the Anna University campus, the Mahila Court in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday found the sole accused, Gnanasekaran (37), guilty on 11 counts, including rape.

The court, presided over by Judge M. Rajalakshmi, announced that sentencing will be pronounced on June 2.

The charge sheet in the case was filed on February 24 by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that took over the probe from the Greater Chennai Police.

Gnanasekaran, a roadside biryani

vendor and a DMK local leader with a known criminal background, was initially arrested by the local police soon after the incident.

According to the prosecution, the incident took place on December 23, 2024, when the victim, a second-year engineering student, was spending time with her male friend on campus.

Gnanasekaran confronted the couple, threatened them with a fabricated video of them being intimate, and warned that he would share it with university officials to have them expelled.

He then coerced the boy into leaving and manipulated the girl into following him to a secluded part of the campus. Pretending that the boy was being investigated by university staff, he further intimidated the victim.

When she refused to comply with his demands, Gnanasekaran allegedly sexually assaulted her and recorded the act on his mobile phone.

He later took her phone number and blackmailed her, threatening to send the video to her father and college authorities if she failed to meet him again. However, the girl demonstrated remarkable courage by refusing to stay silent.

With the support of her family and college authorities, she filed a complaint the very next day at the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station. The swift action by the police led to Gnanasekaran’s immediate arrest.

During the trial, his counsel pleaded for leniency in sentencing, citing personal grounds. However, the prosecution strongly objected, stressing the heinous nature of the crime and the long history of criminal offences attributed to the accused.

Judge Rajalakshmi, after hearing both sides, reserved the pronouncement of sentence for June 2.

The verdict has been hailed as a significant step toward justice for the survivor and a strong message against crimes targeting women on educational campuses.

Crime

Odisha: Drug-addicted son kills father after argument over de-addiction medication

Published

on

Bhubaneswar, July 28: Within 24 hours of the gruesome murder of a woman allegedly by her husband in the Chakeisiani area under Mancheswar police station limits, another brutal killing occurred in the same police station area of Odisha’s Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, with a 50-year-old man allegedly beaten to death by his drug-addicted son.

Police identified the victim as S. Duryadhan (50), while the accused, S. Debaraj (25), is his only son.

The deceased Duryadhan worked as a labour contractor.

Upon being informed, the police along with the scientific team immediately reached the crime spot and launched an investigation into the case.

Speaking to reporters, Biswaranjan Senapati, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone V), said, “Preliminary investigation suggests that Debaraj killed his father following a dispute over his drug use.”

He also added that accused son was a habitual brown sugar addict and had earlier been admitted to a de-addiction centre by his father.

“Following medical advice, Duryodhan used to mix the prescribed de-addiction medicine into a bidi and ask his son to smoke it whenever he would ask for any normal cigarette or bidi. However, Debaraj disliked the arrangement and frequently engaged in heated arguments with his father over the issue,” Senapati said.

The ACP said a heated argument over the issue erupted on Monday night, forcing the accused’s mother and other family members to leave the house out of fear.

According to Senapati, only the father and son were at home on Tuesday morning when they again got into an argument after the victim offered his son a bidi containing the prescribed medicine, while the latter demanded a regular bidi.

Meanwhile, the accused suddenly went into a fury after Duryadhan insisted and attacked the victim with an iron pipe. He later bludgeoned his father with a stone.

“The family members also told us that the accused has a brain tumour and often gets furious all of a sudden. He has been detained at the police station and will be produced before the court later,” Senapati added.

Continue Reading

Crime

EOU conducts simultaneous raids in Jamui in Benami assets probe linked to Zila Parishad chairperson

Published

on

Patna, July 28: The Bihar Economic Offences Unit (EOU) on Tuesday carried out simultaneous raids at multiple locations in Jamui as part of an investigation into alleged benami (proxy-owned) assets linked to Zila Parishad Chairperson Dulari Devi and her husband Guddu Yadav.

The operation was still underway at the time of filing this report.

According to an official, the EOU launched coordinated searches at the residences of Dulari Devi, Guddu Yadav, and four to five of their close associates.

The raids have attracted significant attention across the district.

The search operation is being conducted at several locations, including Guddu Yadav’s in-laws’ residence in Damarkola village under the Khaira police station area, his residence at the district headquarters, and the official Zila Parishad residence.

Investigators are examining documents, financial records, property-related papers, and other materials relevant to the probe.

Preliminary information indicates that the raids are part of an investigation into allegations of benami assets.

However, the EOU has not yet issued an official statement detailing the basis of the searches or the scope of the investigation.

The operation was continuing when this report was filed, and it remains unclear whether any incriminating documents, cash, valuables, or other evidence have been recovered.

Officials are expected to release further details after the search operation is completed.

Earlier on June 11, the EOU had conducted another raid at the properties of Manish Kumar — an accountant working at the Hajipur Municipal Council office in Vaishali — for allegedly amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Preliminary investigations have revealed evidence of assets worth approximately Rs 2.02 crore in excess of his income.

According to the EOU, a case (Case No. 10/26, dated June 10, 2026) was registered against Manish Kumar at the Economic Offences Unit police station following the verification of information received from reliable sources.

The case has been registered under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018).

Continue Reading

Crime

Delhi: Anti-narcotics squad busts illicit liquor stockpoint, arrests bootlegger with 16 cartons of Haryana-mark liquor

Published

on

New Delhi, July 28: The Anti-Narcotics Squad of South District Police has achieved a major success by apprehending a bootlegger and seizing a large quantity of Haryana-mark illicit liquor from his possession and residence in Sangam Vihar. A total of 16 cartons of liquor, including country liquor, whisky, and beer meant for sale only in Haryana, were recovered during the operation.

Following the seizure, a case was registered under the Delhi Excise Act. FIR No. 293/2026, dated July 24, under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act, was lodged at Police Station Sangam Vihar.

The operation was carried out by a team comprising Head Constable Manish, Head Constable Jaldhari, Head Constable Mukesh, Head Constable Jaiveer, and Constable Lokesh under the leadership of Inspector Mahender Dahiya, In-Charge of the Anti-Narcotics Squad. The operation was conducted under the overall supervision of ACP/Operations, South District, Rituraj.

According to police, on July 24, the Anti-Narcotics Squad received specific Intelligence regarding the illegal storage and sale of Haryana-mark liquor in the Sangam Vihar area. Acting promptly on the information, the team laid a trap near F-2nd Block, Sangam Vihar, and apprehended the accused, identified as Ajay, while he was allegedly found in possession of illicit liquor outside his residence.

Subsequently, a search of the accused’s house led to the recovery of a substantial quantity of illegal liquor. The entire consignment was seized, and the accused was arrested after completing all necessary legal formalities. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the liquor and identify others involved in the supply network.

During interrogation, it was revealed that the accused had allegedly stocked Haryana-mark liquor at his residence and was supplying it illegally in Delhi for financial gain while violating the provisions of the Delhi Excise Act.

The arrested accused has been identified as Ajay (42), son of Chhotu Lal, a resident of F-2nd Block, Sangam Vihar, New Delhi. Police records show that he was previously involved in a similar case registered under the Delhi Excise Act at Sangam Vihar Police Station.

The recovered liquor included 321 quarters (six cartons) of Masaledar Desi Sharab marked “For Sale in Haryana Only”, 227 quarters (five cartons) of whisky, 36 bottles (three cartons) of beer, and 47 beer cans (two cartons). In total, 16 cartons of Haryana-mark illicit liquor were seized during the operation.

Police officials said the Intelligence-based action has dealt a significant blow to the illegal liquor trade in the area. Efforts are continuing to trace the source of the contraband, dismantle the supply chain, and identify other individuals involved in the racket.

Continue Reading

Trending