National Commission for Women Conducted Thorough Investigation into Sexual Assault Incident at Anna University, Chennai

PRESS RELEASE

National Commission for Women Conducted Thorough Investigation into Sexual Assault Incident at Anna University, Chennai

The National Commission for Women (NCW) took suo motu cognizance of the recent sexual assault case at Anna University and promptly dispatched a Fact-Finding Committee, comprising Smt. Mamta Kumari, Member NCW, and Shri Praveen Dixit, IPS (retd.) and Former DGP of Maharashtra, to Chennai for an investigation. During the visit, the committee undertook a series of actions to ensure a thorough review of the incident and the ongoing investigation:

• The committee met with the victim and her relatives to understand the details of the incident and provide necessary support.
• The committee visited the place of the incident to assess the situation firsthand.
• A meeting was held with the Governor of Tamil Nadu to discuss the matter further.
• Interactions took place with the Home Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), and the Commissioner of Chennai to review the progress and ensure appropriate action.
• The committee also met with a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Chennai High Court, which included three Women IPS Officers involved in the investigation.
• As there is currently no Vice-Chancellor at Anna University, the committee engaged with the senior official who is the Member Secretary of the university’s core committee.
• The committee held discussions with the Investigating Officer and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) to assess the current progress of the investigation.
• Meetings were also conducted with representatives from NGO, advocates, and the student representatives to understand their perspectives and address concerns.
• Additionally, the committee carried out an inspection of the university’s security infrastructure and safety measures to identify potential lapses that may have contributed to the incident.

The NCW remains committed to ensuring justice for the victim and reinforcing safety measures within educational institutions. A detailed report with recommendations will be compiled and submitted to the Chairperson of the NCW shortly.