Coimbatore (PTI): The Coimbatore Mahila court on Tuesday held all nine men arrested in the sensational Pollachi sexual assault and extortion case as guilty.
Judge R. Nandhini Devi would pronounce the quantum of punishment later in the day.
All those facing the charges have been accused of criminal conspiracy, sexual harassment, rape, gang rape, and extortion, in the series of incidents including blackmail that happened between 2016 and 2018. The victims were mostly college girls and the incident came to light after an affected student lodged a complaint with the police.
The incident caused an outrage in the state and even echoed in the state assembly. An audio clip of a purported victim also went viral, sending shock waves across the state.
While the local police initially probed the matter, it was later transferred to the CB-CID. In 2019, the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The counsel representing the CBI said the agency had sought the "highest punishment" of lifer till death.
The CBI has sought compensation for the victim women.
Among the arrested is an expelled AIADMK functionary.
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Belthangady: The sister of a woman identified as Padmalatha, who had allegedly been raped and murdered in Dharmasthala three decades ago, visited the office of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the Dharmasthala mass burial case, on Monday to file a complaint asking for a re-investigation of the incident.
The victim was reportedly raped and murder about 39 years ago, in 1986.
Padmalatha’s sister Indravathi, who was accompanied by CPM leader BM Bhat and others, asked for a meeting with the senior officers of the SIT.
The team, which is investigating the Dharmasthala mass burial case based on a complaint filed by a man who wished to remain anonymous, is functioning from an office opened in Belthangady.