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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New Delhi (PTI): A 32-year-old barber was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly beating a man to death following an altercation over a 'bidi' in east Delhi's Pandav Nagar area, police said.

A call regarding the incident that occurred near the bus stand road in Shashi Garden was received at 1.24 am, they said.

The victim was identified as Deepak (28), while the accused was Manoj, he added.

According to the police, during an argument, the accused picked up a wooden stick lying nearby and struck the victim repeatedly on the head. Multiple injuries and bruise marks were also found on the victim's forehead.

"Deepak was taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead," an officer said.

An FIR has been registered and further investigation is underway, the officer added.