Tamil Nadu: All 9 accused convicted in Pollachi sexual assault case
PTC News Desk: A session court in Coimbatore has convicted all the 9 men accused of sexually assaulting several women in Tamil Nadu's Pollachi. The case dates back to 2019 which involved a gang of men who lured women into false friendships before sexually abusing and blackmailing them.
The court held the accused Thirunavukarasu, Sabareesan, Vasantha Kumar, Satish, Manivannan, Haranpaul, Babu, Arulanantham and Arun Kumar, guilty under multiple sections of the law. The court is expected to pronounce the quantum of punishment at noon today.
The case first came to attention following a theft complaint filed by one of the survivors. However, as the investigation progressed, authorities uncovered a broader network of organized sexual abuse. The incident sparked widespread outrage across Tamil Nadu after videos of the assaults surfaced online, leading to mass protests and increased political pressure on the then-ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Opposition parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), rallied around the issue, calling for justice and comprehensive reforms to ensure women's safety.
Initially investigated by the Crime Branch - Criminal Investigation Department, the case was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation due to growing public outcry.
During the trial, the prosecution presented testimony from more than 50 witnesses, submitted over 200 documents, and provided 400 pieces of digital evidence. Eight survivors gave statements in court, and the accused responded to 50 written questions.
- PTC NEWS
