Man gets life for rape, murder attempt in Pulicat

CHENNAI The Principal Sessions Court in Tiruvallur on Wednesday sentenced a man to life-imprisonment for raping a woman and attempting to murder her in Pulicat in 2021. The accused, R. Panneerselvam, 20, of Vairavan Kuppam in Pulicat, was also slapped with a fine of ₹65,000. Judge Juliet Pushpa pronounced the verdict.

According to the prosecution, the incident took place around 3 p.m. on April 23, 2021, when the woman, a resident of Muthumariamman Koil Street in Pulicat, went near a compound wall adjacent to the Pulicat Forest Office. Panneerselvam, who allegedly knew that she was there, dragged her to a secluded spot and raped her gagged her, assaulted her, dragged her to a spot, inflicted bleeding injuries and forcibly tore her clothes before raping her. He also attempted to murder her.

The Ponneri All Women Police Station registered a case and arrested the accused. Both the survivor and the accused were subjected to medical examination, and the accused was subsequently remanded in judicial custody. Police examined 24 witnesses and recorded their statements.