CHENNAI: The Madras High Court issued notice to the State government, directing it to respond to the petition challenging the preventive detention of Gnanasekaran, who allegedly sexually assaulted a student of Anna University.

When the division bench of Justice MS Ramesh and Justice N Senthilkumar was hearing the habeas corpus petition moved by his mother D Gengadevi against the preventive detention, her lawyer A Murugavel submitted that the invoking preventive detention was a complete misuse of power with the malafide intention to paint him as a habitual sexual offender. The preventive detention should be revoked because his alleged act did not breach public order, he argued.

The bench posted the matter after four weeks after issuing notice.

On December 23, Gnanasekaran, a resident of Kotturpuram, allegedly threatened a student of Anna University when she was with her friend in an isolated place within the campus. He then sexually assaulted the girl and tried to blackmail her.