Justice Served: Nine Convicted in Shocking Pollachi Sexual Assault Case

Pollachi Sexual Assault Case: Nine Men Convicted

In a landmark verdict, a Mahila Court in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, has convicted nine men in the Pollachi sexual assault case that shook the state six years ago. The judge, R Nandhini Devi, delivered the verdict on Tuesday, May 13th, with the sentencing scheduled for later in the day. The men stand convicted on charges of gang rape and rape, with the prosecution seeking the maximum punishment under these sections. The defense, however, argued for leniency, citing the young age of the accused.

A Gruesome Pattern of Abuse

These nine men, led by the main accused, Sabarirajan alias Riswandh, operated a horrifying scheme. They lured young women, often under false pretenses, and videographed their sexual acts. These videos were then used to blackmail the victims, demanding sexual favours and money. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the investigation, identified 12 women from the recovered videos, with eight of them bravely coming forward to testify in court.

The Case Unfolds: A Decade of Fear and Silence

The case came to light in February 2019 when a 19-year-old college student, Priya (name changed), filed a complaint with the police. Priya had been lured by Sabarirajan to a bus stop under the guise of a private conversation. Instead, she was forcibly taken to a car by Sabarirajan and his accomplices: Thirunavukkarasu, Sathish, and Vasanthkumar.

The four men stripped Priya in the car, filmed the assault, and stole her gold chain. They then used the chilling video to blackmail her, demanding both sexual favours and money. Priya initially remained silent out of fear, but after repeated instances of extortion, she confided in her family.

A Family’s Courage: Breaking the Silence

Priya’s family, horrified by what she had endured, filed a complaint with the police. During the investigation, authorities discovered more videos of other victims on the accused’s phones and laptops, uncovering a disturbing network of exploitation and abuse.

The case moved through the legal system, with the first chargesheet filed in May 2019, followed by a supplementary chargesheet in August 2021. A total of 48 witnesses were examined throughout the trial.