Pollachi Sexual Assault Case Verdict: Varying Life Sentences For Accused Based On Crime Severity

Coimbatore: In a significant verdict delivered on Tuesday, the Coimbatore Mahila Court Judge R Nandhini Devi found all nine accused guilty in the infamous Pollachi sexual assault case. Recognising the gravity of their crimes, the court sentenced each of the nine individuals to life imprisonment until death, and imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh each.

The court has also ordered the Coimbatore District Legal Services Authority to provide Rs 85 lakh in compensation to the victims. Before the verdict was pronounced, the lawyers appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said, "The punishment given to these individuals who were involved in a very heinous crime should create enough fear so that others do not engage in such acts.”

The accused were found guilty on multiple charges including rape, gangrape, sexual assault, extortion and criminal conspiracy. Based on the severity of their individual actions, the accused received varying numbers of life sentences, ranging from one to five.

A1 - N Sabarirajan - 4 life sentences, A2 - K Thirunavukkarasu - 5 life sentences, A3 - M Sathish - 3 life sentences, A4 - T Vasanthakumar - 2 life sentences, A5 - R Manivannan - 5 life sentences, A6 - P Babu - 1 life sentence, A7 - Haronimus Paul - 3 life sentences, A8 - Arulanandam - 1 life sentence and A9 - M Arunkumar - 1 life sentence.

The verdict was welcomed by various groups, including political parties and women's organisations nationwide. The Pollachi sexual assault case, which deeply affected Tamil Nadu and the entire country, sparked numerous protests and widespread outrage demanding justice for the victims.

A brief timeline of the case's progression:

February 24, 2019: Police registered First Information Report based on the complaint, naming Thirunavukkarasu, Sabarirajan (alias Rishwanth), Sathish, and Vasanthakumar. All were arrested, and Manivannan, later implicated, surrendered to the court.

March 12, 2019: While the Pollachi police investigated, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following complaints of involvement by politically connected individuals. The Tamil Nadu government recommended the transfer.

April 28, 2019: The CBI registered two FIRs against the accused.

May 14, 2019: CBI officials raided Thirunavukkarasu's farmhouse.

May 21, 2019: The CBI filed a chargesheet in the Pollachi sexual assault case. The High Court ordered the trial to be held in a separate room within the Coimbatore Court complex.

November 1, 2019: The Coimbatore District Collector invoked the Goondas Act against four accused: Sabarirajan, Thirunavukkarasu, Sathish, and Vasanthakumar.

January 5, 2021: Based on a victim's statement, three AIADMK members – Haronimus Paul, Babu, and Arulanandam – were arrested and imprisoned.

January 6, 2021: Arulanandam, AIADMK's Pollachi city student wing secretary, was expelled from the party.

January 27, 2021: Another woman testified in the Coimbatore Mahila Court about being assaulted.

August 11, 2021: The Madras High Court mandated the Pollachi sexual assault case trial be completed within six months.

August 13, 2021: The CBI officials arrested Arunkumar from Kitasoorampalayam village, Pollachi, and he was remanded to judicial custody by the Coimbatore court.

September 21, 2021: The accused received copies of the chargesheet.

November 12, 2021: Charges were filed against all nine accused.

February 24, 2023: Witness examination began before Mahila Court Judge Nandhini Devi, conducted online with the nine accused, who were lodged in Salem Central Jail, appearing via video conferencing. The courtroom doors were closed during testimony.

April 28, 2025: Following the testimony of eight female victims and the review of over 200 documents and 48 witnesses, the trial concluded. The judge announced the verdict would be delivered on May 13.

May 13, 2025: Judge Nandini Devi announced at 10:30 am that all charges against the nine accused in the Pollachi sex case were proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Subsequently, at 12:45 pm, all nine were sentenced to life imprisonment until death.