Five out of 15 convicts sentenced to life in Ayanavaram sexual assault case

Ravikumar (56), Suresh (32), Abishek(28), and Palani(40) were sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life while Rajasekaran(48) was sentenced to life in imprisonment and are eligible for premature release.

Special Judge R N Manjula, who presided over the court convicted 15 out of 17 accused on Saturday and on Monday, pronounced the quantum of sentences before the convicts. Earlier, 15 convicts were brought to the special court under tight security from Puzhal Central Prison.

Eralid Bross (58) was sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment(RI) and the remaining convicts – Sugumaran(60), Murugesan(54), Paramsivam(60), Jayaganesh(23), Deenadayalan(50), Jayaraman(26), Surya(23), Raja(32) and Umapathy(42) – were sentenced to five years RI. Gunasekaran (55), a gardener was acquitted and another accused Babu (36) died during the trial. While awarding the compensation to the victim, the judge said, “Considering the physical and mental trauma undergone by the victim and her family, interim of compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh should be awarded. The compensation shall be paid by the State government from the victim compensation fund or other scheme or fund prescribed under rule 7(4) and (5) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012.”

Since it is the interim compensation, the court ordered the government to pay the compensation immediately payable through the mother or father of the victim.

The case relates to the sexual assault of a hearing-impaired minor girl by a group of 17 people, mostly plumbers, housekeepers, security guards and lift operators working in an apartment complex at Ayanavaram. The girl was allegedly sexually assaulted several times by the accused ofover seven months.

The matter came to light after the victim narrated her ordeal to her elder sister who then informed their parents following which the girl's father lodged a police complaint on July 13, 2018. Police had charged the accused under 35 sections including section 5, 6, 10, 12, 42 of POCSO Act, 354-B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 366 (kidnapping), 376-AB, 376-DB, 506 (i) and 506 (ii) of the IPC.