Biryani vendor gets life for assaulting student of Anna University

A Chennai court has sentenced Gnanasekaran, a biryani vendor, to life in prison for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old student near Anna University last December. The Mahila Court (women’s court) said he must spend at least 30 years in jail. The court also ordered him to pay a fine of Rs 90,000. Judge M Rajalakshmi said no mercy should be shown to Gnanasekaran because of the serious nature of his crimes. He was found guilty on 11 charges, including rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, and threatening the victim. Police had filed a 100-page chargesheet, and 29 people testified in court during the trial. Gnanasekaran had asked the court for a lighter punishment, saying he needed to care for his elderly mother and young daughter. With inputs from PTI

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