COIMBATORE: Exactly 125 days after a 21-year-old student was gangraped near the Coimbatore airport, a District Mahila Court on Saturday found the three men accused of the crime guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment till death. The horrific crime had sparked widespread outrage across the state amid fears that Tamil Nadu was becoming more unsafe for women.
The verdict, pronounced by Judge (in-charge) V Sundaraj, marked the conclusion of the fast-tracked trial.
T Karuppasamy alias Satheesh (30), his brother T Kaleeswaran alias Karthik (21) from Sivaganga and their relative M Guna (20) from Madurai were convicted under seven sections of the law and sentenced as per Section 70 (1) of BNS (gangrape), which attracts a minimum of 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, extending up to life imprisonment (for the remainder of their natural life), with a fine of Rs 2,500.
Court orders TN govt to give Rs 7 lakh to survivor, Rs 2 lakh to her male friend
The judge also ordered the state to pay the woman survivor a compensation of Rs 7 lakh, and her male friend, who had been assaulted by the trio, Rs 2 lakh.
The crime occurred at a deserted place behind the Coimbatore International Airport on the intervening night of November 2 and 3, 2025, when the victim and her male friend were inside a car on the mud road connecting Brindhavan Nagar and SIHS Colony. According to public prosecutor B Jisha, the three men assaulted the victim’s friend and abducted her from the car around 10.45 pm on November 2. They took her to an isolated area nearby and gangraped her. Alerted by the male friend, passersby informed the Coimbatore city police. With the help of local residents, police rescued the woman around 4 am on November 3.
Subsequently, the police traced the three men, who were living in a rented room in Irugur, around 4 km from the crime scene. The men, who had prior criminal records, were shot in their legs as they allegedly attempted to flee. They were caught at Vellakinar near Thudiyalur.
Based on the CM’s order and the Madras High Court’s directions, a chargesheet was filed before the Additional Mahila Court on December 1, 2025. The case was later transferred to the Coimbatore District Mahila Court where the witness examinations were held.
Following the verdict, public prosecutor Jisha appreciated the members of the public who had helped the youth approach the police and the local residents who rescued the survivor.
The accused have been convicted under various sections of the BNS, including 311 (robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 76 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 127 (2) (wrongful confinement) and 70 (1) (gang rape).
D Sivakumar, the defence counsel, said the police had framed charges under 25 individual sections, but crimes under only seven sections were made out.
“There are many valid points for appeal, including regarding the delays in forensic examination. We will go for an appeal,” he said.