On May 13, 2025, the Coimbatore Mahila Court delivered a landmark verdict in the 2019 Pollachi sexual assault case, sentencing all nine accused to life imprisonment until death for gang rape, repeated rape, blackmail, and criminal conspiracy. The court also ordered Rs 85 lakh in compensation for the eight survivors who testified. The case, involving the assault and extortion of numerous women in Tamil Nadu, shocked the nation. This article examines whether the verdict provides closure to the survivors, exploring their journey, societal impact, and ongoing challenges.

The Verdict: A Legal Milestone

The Mahila Court, under Judge R. Nandhini Devi, convicted nine men—N. Sabarirajan, K. Thirunavukkarasu, M. Sathish, T. Vasanthakumar, R. Manivannan, P. Babu, T. Haronimus Paul, K. Arulanantham, and M. Arunkumar—for crimes committed between 2016 and 2018. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) presented 206 documents, 400 electronic items, and 48 witnesses, none of whom turned hostile, ensuring a robust prosecution. The court’s 692-page judgment emphasized public abhorrence of such crimes, awarding compensation to aid survivors’ recovery. Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin hailed the verdict on X, stating, “Justice has been served,” while activists like the All India Democratic Women’s Association celebrated outside the court.

Survivors’ Courage and Trauma

The case surfaced when a 19-year-old college student, lured by Sabarirajan to a bus stop, was assaulted in a car and blackmailed with video footage. Her complaint to Pollachi East Police in February 2019 exposed a racket targeting over 200 women, including students, teachers, and doctors, using fake social media profiles to entrap them. Only eight survivors testified, facing immense trauma, as the accused filmed assaults at a farmhouse and extorted them for money or further abuse. The CBI provided counseling, and a special courtroom with one-way glass protected their identities, adhering to the Witness Protection Scheme. Yet, the public leak of the initial complainant’s identity by police in 2019 deterred others from coming forward, highlighting systemic failures.

Closure or Partial Justice?

For the eight survivors, the verdict offers legal closure, affirming their courage and delivering accountability. The life sentences and Rs 85 lakh compensation signal societal condemnation of the crimes, potentially empowering other victims to speak out. 

Lingering Challenges

Despite the convictions, closure remains incomplete. Suspicions persist that more victims, possibly linked to regional suicides, did not testify due to fear or stigma. Allegations of police cover-ups and political interference, including the accused’s AIADMK ties, were not fully probed, raising questions about systemic accountability. 

Societal and Legal Impact

The verdict sets a precedent for handling sexual assault cases, with no witnesses turning hostile and forensic evidence proving pivotal. It has sparked calls for stricter laws, faster trials, and better victim support, as voiced by activists. However, the case exposes vulnerabilities in India’s justice system, from initial police mishandling to the limited number of testifying survivors. While the ruling restores some public faith, as Judge Devi noted, “misplaced sympathy” must not undermine such cases. For survivors, closure hinges on societal change, robust rehabilitation, and ensuring no victim is silenced again.

-By Manoj H