The convicts in the Coimbatore gang rape case at the Mahila Court.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
The Mahila Court in Coimbatore on Saturday (March 7, 2026) sentenced all three accused in the 2025 Coimbatore gang rape case to life imprisonment.
The convicted persons are: T. Karuppasamy alias Satheesh, 30, his brother T. Kaleeswaran alias Karthik, 21, both natives of Singampunari in Sivaganga district, and their distant relative M. Guna alias Thavasi, 20, of Madurai district.
The court awarded life imprisonment to the trio for the offence of gang rape under Section 70(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The Section attracts rigorous imprisonment of not less than 20 years, which may also extend to imprisonment for life (the remainder of the person’s natural life) and a fine.
They were produced before the court 1.30 p.m. and judge (in-charge) V. Sundararaj held the three accused guilty and awarded them punishment for offences under Sections 324 (4), 309 (4), 311, 70 (1), 74, 76 and 127 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Special Public Prosecutor B. Jisha said the court directed the State government to pay a compensation of ₹7 lakh to the survivor and ₹2 lakh to her boyfriend, who is also the complainant in the case. She said the court appreciated the police for their investigation in the case.
As per the chargesheet, the trio gang-raped the college student, aged 20, in a deserted area near Coimbatore International Airport on the intervening night of November 2 and 3, 2025. They committed the crime after assaulting her 25-year-old boyfriend, with whom she was seated in a car in an open area off the mud road connecting Brindhavan Nagar and SIHS Colony.
Inspector S. Latha, assisted by Inspector R. Arjunkumar, Station House Officer of the Peelamedu police station, investigated the case.
Lawyers D. Sasikumar, S. Stalin and Sanjeev Kumar, who appeared for the convicts under the Legal Aid Defence Counsel scheme, said they would appeal against the trial court verdict in the Madras High Court.
Charges against accused:
Sections 324(4), 140(3), 309(6) read with 311, 70(1), 140(4), 115(2), 74, 76, 127(2), 64(2)(m), 111(2) (b)and 111(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Convicted for:
Sections 324 (4), 309 (4), 311, 70 (1), 74, 76 and 127 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Section 70(1) for gang rape attracts rigorous imprisonment of not less than 20 years. It may also extend to imprisonment for life (the remainder of that person’s natural life) and a fine.
Prosecution witnesses: 72
Material Objects: 42
Exhibits: 111
Published – March 07, 2026 04:54 pm IST
