The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, finds itself grappling with a significant political and social backlash following a harrowing incident at Anna University. A police First Information Report (FIR) has brought to light a terrifying sequence of events involving threats, coercion, and sexual assault, leaving the DMK government under intense scrutiny.
On December 23, a woman who had been in a two-year relationship with a fellow student at Anna University was attacked while spending time with her boyfriend on campus. Two unidentified individuals approached them, assaulted the boyfriend, and subjected the woman to sexual harassment. The perpetrators forced her to strip, recorded videos without her consent, and threatened her before fleeing. The traumatized woman reported the incident to the Kotturpuram police, triggering a detailed investigation.
The police arrested Gnanasekaran, a 37-year-old biryani vendor from Kotturpuram, who has a history of criminal activity with multiple cases pending against him. The FIR accuses him of threatening to leak footage of the couple to the university dean and their parents unless his demands were met. Gnanasekaran’s alleged actions escalated to sexual assault, and he extracted personal details from the survivor’s phone, including her father’s contact information.
Police investigations revealed that Gnanasekaran is not only a repeat offender but also a DMK functionary. Social media images link him with prominent DMK leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Health Minister Ma. Subramanian. These revelations have added a political dimension to the case, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been attempting to expand its influence in Tamil Nadu, has seized the incident as a political opportunity. BJP state president K. Annamalai has aggressively criticized the DMK government, alleging a breakdown of law and order. He also staged a dramatic protest, using self-flagellation to symbolize the “deaf and dumb” governance under the DMK.
The BJP has accused the DMK of shielding its party members and failing to ensure justice for the survivor. Annamalai has vowed to pursue the case to its logical conclusion, using it as a platform to highlight alleged governance failures. Meanwhile, the AIADMK, the DMK’s primary rival, has also pointed to a perceived rise in sexual assaults in Chennai since the DMK assumed office in May 2021.
The case has reached the Madras High Court, which has directed the state to take decisive action. However, the state government’s credibility has come under fire after it chose to challenge a High Court order transferring the investigation of a separate Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Supreme Court has since stayed the High Court’s order, raising questions about the state government’s motivations in seeking such an appeal.
The incident has also drawn attention to broader crime trends in Tamil Nadu. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), while overall reported crimes in the state decreased from 13.77 lakh cases in 2020 to 7.56 lakh cases in 2021, crimes against women, children, and Scheduled Castes (SCs) have seen an alarming spike. These statistics challenge the DMK’s claims of effective governance and public safety.
The DMK now finds itself under intense scrutiny, with its credibility eroding among its supporters and the general public. The party’s image as a champion of social justice has taken a hit, and the Anna University incident has provided the BJP with a potent issue to challenge its dominance.
Hence, the coming weeks will be critical for the DMK as it awaits the Supreme Court’s decision on its appeal against the High Court directive. The ruling could significantly impact the party’s standing in Tamil Nadu’s volatile political landscape. Meanwhile, the BJP appears poised to intensify its campaign, using this episode to strengthen its foothold in the state. The DMK’s response to this crisis will likely determine its political fortunes and its ability to maintain public trust.
