COIMBATORE: Coimbatore District Mahila Court on Saturday awarded life imprisonment to three men for the gang rape of a 20 year old college student in November 2025, concluding a fast tracked trial within 125 days in a case that triggered widespread outrage in Tamil Nadu.
The incident occurred at a deserted place behind Coimbatore Airport on the intervening night of November 2 and 3, 2025, when the victim and her male friend were inside a car.
The three men assaulted the male friend, kidnapped the woman and gang raped her in the isolated area.
The woman was rescued with the support of local residents and taken for medical treatment. Meanwhile, Coimbatore city police arrested the suspects, T Karuppasamy (30), his brother T Kaleeswaran (21), and their relative M Guna (20), all from Sivagangai district, on November 3 based on CCTV footage and mobile tower locations.
Police caught them in the Vellakinar area near Thudiyalur after firing at their legs as they were attempting to flee after assaulting the police team.
As the incident triggered widespread outrage, Chief Minister M K Stalin instructed the police to file the chargesheet within a month and to take steps to ensure that the arrested persons receive the severest punishment.
Following these instructions, the police framed charges and filed a nearly 350 page chargesheet. The court initiated the trial, which concluded on February 23.
On Saturday, the court found the three men guilty of offences under the BNS Act, including gang rape and kidnapping. In the evening, the judgment was delivered by Judge (in charge) V Sundararaj.
The court also ordered compensation of Rs 7 lakh for the victim and Rs 2 lakh for her friend, who was brutally assaulted by the three member gang.