POLLACHI SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE: COIMBATORE COURT CONVICTS ALL NINE ACCUSED, SENTENCES THEM TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT

The court found the accused guilty of all charges against them; it also ordered that the State government pay a total compensation of ₹85 lakh to eight survivors of sexual assault

- AJIKUMAR CHENNAI

The Mahila Court in Coimbatore found all nine accused in the Pollachi sexual assault case guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

To get today's top stories from the State in your inbox, subscribe to our Tamil Nadu Today newsletterJudge R. Nandhini Devi pronounced the quantum of sentence, after hearing the prosecution and defence arguments. The court also ordered that the State government pay a total compensation of ₹85 lakh to eight survivors of sexual assault.

The court found the accused guilty of all charges against them. The accused are: N. Sabarirajan, 32, aka Rishwanth, of Jothi Nagar; K. Thirunavukkarasu, 34, of Makkinampatti; M. Sathish, 33, and T. Vasanthakumar, 30, of Suleeswaranpatti; R. Mani, aka Manivannan, 32, of Achipatti; P. Babu, 33, of Mahalingapuram; T. Haronimus Paul, 32, of Achipatti; K. Arulanantham, 39, of Vadugapalayam; and M. Arunkumar, 33, of Panikkampatti.

They had been charged with multiple offences, including criminal conspiracy, sexual harassment, rape, gang rape, and repeated rape on the same women.

The accused were brought to the court from the Salem Central Prison on Tuesday morning amid tight security.

Earlier in the day, CBI Public Prosecutor Surenda Mohan said the prosecution would pray for maximum punishment for the accused, citing the gravity of the charges against them.