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.

New Delhi, May 28: In a swift operation, Delhi Police’s West District team from Police Station Moti Nagar solved a major theft case involving Rs 35 lakh within just 48 hours of the crime being reported.

The accused, identified as Vivek Raj alias Sahil, a 23-year-old accountant employed at the victim company, was arrested from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rs 34,98,550 in stolen cash was recovered from his possession.

According to an official press release issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Vichitra Veer, the incident occurred on May 24, when a call was received at the police station Moti Nagar reporting the theft of Rs 35 lakh from Dynamic Forge Company’s office at Magnum House-2, Karampura.

The complainant, a Field Officer at the company, informed the police that he had locked the cash in an almirah before leaving for another office branch. At the time of the incident, the only person present in the office was the accountant, later identified as the accused.

Upon his return, the complainant discovered the almirah open and the cash missing, following which a case was registered, and investigations were launched.

A specialised team was immediately formed under the supervision of Inspector Varun Dalal, SHO Moti Nagar, comprising Sub Inspector Parveen Kumar, ASI Rajinder, Head Constable Amit, and HC Jatin. The team conducted extensive raids across Gurugram, Noida, and Azamgarh, checking over 40 hotels and using both technical surveillance and human intelligence to trace the suspect.

The breakthrough came on May 26, when the team received a tip-off from a secret informer about the accused’s presence at Manglam Hotel in Azamgarh.

Upon verification, hotel staff confirmed that a man matching Vivek Raj’s description was staying in one of the rooms. Police moved in and apprehended him.

During interrogation, he admitted to the crime and led officers to a black carry bag on the bed, which contained Rs 34,98,550 in cash. The recovery was made in the presence of hotel staff and independent witnesses.

The accused, Vivek Raj alias Sahil, son of Bihari Lal, is a resident of Village Bhangrola, Manesar, Gurugram, Haryana, and is currently in police custody.

The swift action and near-complete recovery of the stolen amount have been widely appreciated. The Delhi Police press release commended the efforts of the investigative team, stating, “The theft of Rs. 35 lakhs was solved within 48 hours by the team of PS Moti Nagar.”

Srinagar, May 26: Police on Monday arrested a drug peddler and recovered narcotic substances from his possession in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara border district.

“Continuing its firm action against drug trafficking and its harmful impact on society, the Kupwara Police today apprehended a drug peddler during a ‘Naka’ (checkpoint) operation, dealing a significant blow to the drug menace in the region,” said police in a statement.

“A police party from Police Post Bazar, under the supervision of senior officers, had established a checkpoint at Geerhatchi as part of routine surveillance and anti-drug operations. During the naka checking, a suspicious individual approaching from Zangli towards Kupwara attempted to evade the checkpoint. However, the alert naka party acted swiftly and apprehended the suspect before he could flee. Upon initial questioning, the individual identified himself as Faisal Ahmad Sheikh, son of Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh, resident of Kupwara. A subsequent search led to the recovery of a heroin-like substance from his possession,” the statement mentioned.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the accused was actively involved in the supply and distribution of narcotics, particularly targeting the youth in Kupwara town and the Hyhama belt, thereby contributing to the rise of drug abuse in the region.

“Accordingly, a case under FIR No. 149/2025 U/S 8/21 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Kupwara, and a detailed investigation has been initiated to uncover the broader network involved,” the police said.

“The arrest of the said individual is seen as a major respite for the local population, especially the parents and families concerned about the growing drug abuse among the youth. Kupwara Police remains committed to its zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking,” the officials said.

It must be mentioned that J&K Police and the security forces have launched an aggressive campaign against drug smugglers and drug peddlers, as the roots of drug smuggling have been traced to across the border in Pakistan.

Security forces and intelligence agencies believe that money generated by hawala rackets and drug smuggling is finally used to sustain terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.