Six years after the sensational Pollachi sexual assault and extortion case came to light, all nine men arrested in connection with the crime were convicted and sentenced to ‘life imprisonment till death’ by a Mahila Court here on Tuesday. Judge R Nandhini Devi who pronounced the quantum of punishment, ordered compensation of R85 lakh to the eight victims.

The nine accused were brought to the court from the Salem Central Prison earlier in the day amidst tight security.  All those facing the charges have been accused of criminal conspiracy, sexual harassment, rape, gang rape, and extortion, in the series of incidents including blackmail that happened between 2016 and 2018.