The recent sexual
assault of a 19-year-old student at Anna University has triggered public outcry
from women and student bodies, along with a major political row. The incident,
which occurred on December 23, was committed by a “habitual offender” with a record
of similar crimes, further intensifying anger towards the police and university
administration. From victim compensation to the first information report (FIR)
leak, here are the major updates so far.
The ‘FIR View’ page on
the Tamil Nadu police website, meant to block access to FIRs under sensitive
sections, displayed information about the rape survivor. This led to further
criticism of authorities’ handling of the case. The National Informatics Centre
(NIC) attributed the leak to technical glitches and the migration of IPC data
to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) platform. The NIC has since reviewed the
website’s code to address vulnerabilities and safeguard sensitive data.
Following public
outrage, the Madras High Court on Saturday directed the formation of a Special
Investigation Team (SIT) comprising three women IPS officers to investigate the
incident. The court also ordered the state government to compensate the
survivor with Rs 25 lakh and instructed Anna University to waive her fees to
ensure her education continues uninterrupted.
A National Commission
for Women (NCW) fact-finding team reported shortcomings in the university
administration and police response. The report, submitted to Tamil Nadu
Governor R N Ravi, highlighted deficiencies and proposed systemic changes. NCW
member Mamta Kumari, joined by retired IPS officer Praveen Dixit, expressed
confidence in achieving justice and called for essential facility upgrades at
the university.
The case has sparked
widespread protests, with the AIADMK accusing the ruling DMK of failing to
ensure women’s safety. AIADMK members staged demonstrations demanding swift
action. General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami questioned the identity of the
“sir” referenced by the arrested suspect, intensifying pressure on the state
administration.