Life Sentence For 9 Convicts In Tamil Nadu’s 2019 Pollachi Sex Assault Case

Six years following the accusations against nine men for sexually assaulting and blackmailing multiple women in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, a court has declared them guilty. Sessions court Judge R. Nandhini Devi convicted the men of gangrape and multiple instances of rape.

The judge sentenced all nine convicts to life imprisonment – Sabarirajan known as Rishwanth, 32, Thirunavukarasu, 34, T Vasantha Kumar, 30, M Sathish, 33, R Mani also called Manivannan, P Babu, 33, Haron Paul, 32, Arulanantham, 39, and Arun Kumar, 33. Since their arrest in 2019 in the sensational case that captivated the nation, they have been at the Salem Central Prison.

This morning, they were taken to the court in Coimbatore with strong police protection; monitoring was heightened throughout the city. The court building and other important sites were heavily secured. More than 200 documents and 400 pieces of electronic evidence, such as forensically validated videos of the attacks, were submitted during the trial.

“The survivors’ testimonies, supported by digital proof, were pivotal. No witnesses turned hostile, and the Witness Protection Act ensured their identities and safety,” said the public prosecutor.

However, he said only eight survivors officially reported the crimes they were subjected to, underscoring the fear of societal stigma and retaliation.

Women’s rights activists welcomed the convictions but demanded a systemic follow-through. “This verdict is a relief, but survivors need compensation, counselling, and government job assurances to rebuild their lives,” said a member of the Tamil Nadu Women’s Collective.