Pollachi Sexual Assault Case (2019)

1. Case Title & Citation; 

Pollachi Sexual Assault Case (2019) 

No standard SCC citation available (Trial Court & Madras High Court proceedings; transferred  to CBI). 

2. Court Name & Bench; 

Initially before District Court, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu). 

Later transferred to CBI Special Court, Coimbatore. 

The judge who presided over the Pollachi rape case was R Nandhini Devi of the Coimbatore  District Mahila Court 

Bench: Single/Division Benches depending on petitions. 

3. Date of Judgment ; 

May 13, 2025 

The judgment in the Pollachi rape case was delivered on by the Coimbatore  District Mahila Court 

4. Parties Involved; 

-Petitioner/Prosecution: State of Tamil Nadu (later CBI). 

 Vs 

-Respondents/Accused: 

Names of the Accused 

1. Sabarirajan alias Rishwanth
2. Thirunavukkarasu 
3. Sathish 
4. Vasanthakumar 
5. Mani alias Manivannan 
6. Babu 
7. Haronimus Paul 
8. Arulanantham 
9. Arunkumar 

Main accused – Thirunavukkarasu, Sathish, Vasanthakumar, and Arul. 

Others later charged for conspiracy, abetment, and extortion. 

Victims: Multiple young women (names withheld for confidentiality). 

5. Facts of the Case; 

The Pollachi rape case refers to a horrifying series of sexual assaults and blackmail incidents  that occurred between 2016 and 2018 in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu. A gang of men targeted young  women by first befriending them through social media, then luring them into secluded locations  where they were sexually assaulted, filmed without consent, and blackmailed for sexual favors  or money. The case came to light in February 2019 when a 19-year-old college student filed a  complaint, leading to the discovery of dozens of videos on the accused’s phone and revealing  a pattern of abuse affecting potentially hundreds of women across the state. The Central Bureau  of Investigation (CBI) took over the case due to its scale and sensitivity. On May 13, 2025, the  Coimbatore Mahila Court convicted all nine accused and sentenced them to life imprisonment  until death. The Tamil Nadu government was also directed to pay ₹85 lakh in compensation to  eight survivors, highlighting the gravity of the crimes and the long-overdue justice delivered.

6. Issues Raised;

1)Whether the accused were guilty of sexual assault, criminal intimidation, extortion, and  distribution of obscene material. 

2)Whether police officers mishandled the case and leaked victim details, violating Section  228A IPC (ban on publishing victim identity). 

3)Whether the case required transfer to an independent agency (CBI) due to political influence  and mishandling. 

7. Arguments of the Parties; 

Prosecution/CBI: 

Strong digital and video evidence linking the accused. 

Multiple victims identified and corroborated the assaults. 

Offences attracted IPC section 354A, 354B, 354C, 354D, 376, 384, 506; IT Act ,section 66E,  67, 67A. 

Defense: 

Claimed consensual acts and false implication due to political rivalry. 

Argued lack of direct evidence in some charges. 

8. Judgment / Final Decision 

On May 13, 2025, the Mahila Court in Coimbatore delivered its verdict in the Pollachi sexual  assault case, sentencing all nine accused to life imprisonment until death. The court found them 

guilty of luring young women under false pretenses, sexually assaulting them, filming the acts,  and using the footage to blackmail the victims between 2016 and 2018. The case, which came  to light in 2019, sparked widespread outrage across Tamil Nadu and led to a Central Bureau of  Investigation (CBI) probe. In addition to the prison sentences, the court directed the Tamil  Nadu government to pay ₹85 lakh in compensation to eight survivors, with individual amounts  ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹25 lakh. The judgement was seen as a landmark ruling, sending a  strong message against sexual violence and systemic exploitation. 

9. Legal Reasoning / Ratio Decidendi; 

The court emphasized that consent obtained by threat, coercion, or blackmail is not “free  consent” under IPC section 375. 

Victim testimony, even if delayed, is reliable when consistent and corroborated by digital  evidence. 

Protection of victim identity is a constitutional mandate (Art. 21 – Right to Privacy & Dignity). 

Cited State of Punjab v. Gurmit Singh (1996) for reliance on victim testimony in sexual assault  cases. Court noted systemic lapses in initial police handling and stressed accountability. 

10. Observations ; 

The Pollachi case highlights the intersection of sexual assault, cybercrime, and misuse of digital  technology, It exposed serious lapses in police handling and the urgent need for victim sensitive procedures. The case has become a landmark in Tamil Nadu, pushing for stronger  cyber laws, stricter punishment, and institutional reforms to prevent custodial mishandling of  sexual offence cases. As a law student, this case demonstrates how social pressure and judicial  intervention can strengthen the justice delivery system, ensuring accountability even in  politically sensitive crimes.