Sat May 31 04:00:26 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the article and a rewrite as a news article:

**Summary:**

In a landmark verdict, a Mahila Court in Coimbatore, India, convicted nine men for the gang rape and sexual assault of multiple women in the Pollachi area between 2016 and 2019. The convicts received life sentences and were ordered to pay substantial compensation to the victims. The case hinged on the testimony of the victims, corroborated by electronic evidence, despite challenges like inconsistent statements and lack of corroborating physical evidence. The court emphasized that in sexual assault cases, the victim’s testimony is paramount if deemed credible.

**News Article:**

**Pollachi Sexual Assault Case: Nine Men Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Landmark Verdict**

**Coimbatore, India – May 31, 2025** – A special court in Coimbatore delivered a significant victory for survivors of sexual violence, sentencing nine men to life imprisonment for their involvement in a widespread gang rape and sexual assault case that terrorized the Pollachi region of Tamil Nadu between 2016 and 2019.

The Mahila Court found the men guilty under Section 376D of the Indian Penal Code (gang rape) and ordered them to pay a total of ₹85 lakh (approximately $100,000 USD) in compensation to seven victims.

The case, investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), revealed a chilling modus operandi. The men befriended women, then abducted and sexually assaulted them. They recorded the assaults and used the videos to blackmail and repeatedly rape the victims.

The verdict follows a complex trial, with the 658-page judgment highlighting the challenges faced by the prosecution. One key issue was inconsistencies in victim testimonies, including a victim who added a rape allegation six years after the initial incident. The judge acknowledged the potential for exaggeration but emphasized that a victim’s entire testimony should not be dismissed on that basis alone. The court also ruled that the SC/ST Act need not be invoked merely because the victims happened to be from a Scheduled Caste unless there was evidence to prove that the offence had been committed due to caste hatred.

“Our jurisprudential enthusiasm for presumed innocence must be moderated by the pragmatic need to make criminal justice potent and realistic… Proof beyond reasonable doubt does not mean proof beyond the shadow of doubt. The law would fail to protect the community if it admitted fanciful possibilities to deflect the court of justice,” the judge observed.

The defense raised concerns about missing evidence, such as mobile phones and CCTV footage, but the court ultimately sided with the prosecution, emphasizing the crucial role of victim testimony in sexual assault cases. This landmark ruling sends a strong message that such crimes will be prosecuted rigorously, and the voices of survivors will be heard.

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