Life Sentence For 9 Convicts In Tamil Nadu’s 2019 Pollachi Sex Assault Case
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu – A sessions court in Coimbatore has delivered a landmark verdict, convicting all nine individuals accused in the notorious 2019 Pollachi sexual assault case, a case that sent shockwaves across Tamil Nadu. The ruling, handed down by Judge R Nandhini Devi on May 13, 2025, marks a significant step toward justice for the survivors of a chilling series of crimes that gripped public attention six years ago.
The case first came to light when a college student reported being sexually assaulted, revealing a disturbing pattern of exploitation. Investigations uncovered that the accused had targeted at least eight women, including the initial complainant, between 2016 and 2018. The perpetrators allegedly lured their victims, subjected them to sexual assault, and recorded the acts to extort money and further sexual favors through blackmail. The nine men faced charges under stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rape, gang rape, repeated rape of the same victim, criminal conspiracy, sexual harassment, and blackmail.
Initially investigated by the Pollachi police, the case was later transferred to the Tamil Nadu Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) and subsequently to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following public outcry for an impartial probe. The CBI’s inquiry exposed a systemic pattern of abuse, with survivors alleging that the accused used threats of leaking compromising videos to their families and communities to ensure compliance. The trial became a focal point for discussions on gender-based violence, highlighting issues of prolonged coercion and institutional delays.
“This verdict is a relief, but survivors need compensation, counseling, and government job assurances to rebuild their lives,” stated a representative from the Tamil Nadu Women’s Collective. The nine convicts, who have been held at Salem Central Prison since their 2019 arrests, now await sentencing, with the court’s decision seen as a critical test of the judicial system’s response to such heinous crimes.
