Published Sep 24, 2026 | 11:16 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 25, 2026 | 12:17 AM
AJ Hariharan {Left} and R Veeramani.
Synopsis: An “unidentified” whistleblower’s visit to an NGO signalled the beginning of a probe that culminated in the arrest of once-respected industrialist R Veeramani, allegedly for sexually abusing minor girls. The lewd acts were caught on camera, and the whistleblower handed over a pen drive containing the videos to the NGO, ICWO. The case has now taken a political turn, with DMK’s MK Stalin firing back at the TVK for — what he termed — indulging in a “despicable act of exploiting the suffering of minor girls as a tool for by-elections”.
Little did AJ Hariharan expect that a pen drive his office received on 6 October 2025 would whip up a storm in Tamil Nadu—and expose a sordid picture of humiliation, exploitation and abuse of minor girls.
A year later, the small storage device delivered to the Indian Community Welfare Organisation (ICWO)’s office at Ayanavaram, a Chennai neighbourhood, revealed shocking details of the sexual abuse of minor girls, a botched probe, and the transfer of senior police officers.
At the centre of controversy is an 84-year-old industrialist, R Veeramani, the owner of Gem Granites.
ICWO’s founder-secretary Hariharan is hopeful today, which he did not hide while meeting the media on Thursday, 24 September.
He recalled the incidents. An “unidentified” person walked into the non-profit’s office, handed over the pen drive and a note, and left.
Volunteers checked the stored files. They realised that the files pointed to a serious crime involving minors. They handed over the device and the note to the Anti-Vice Squad (AVS). ICWO, an NGO, has been working with the squad for several years to rescue and rehabilitate minor girls.
AVS officers asked the NGO for a formal complaint. Hariharan accompanied the investigators to the residence of the man purportedly seen in the video saved on the pen drive. Hariharan said he went with the police as an NGO representative.
The activist said he had not met Veeramani in person before. He realised that the man, purportedly seen in the video, is the managing director of Gem Granites.
Hariharan told reporters that he immediately identified Veeramani as the man in the video. AVS sleuths searched the industrialist’s residence and seized electronic gadgets, including a computer hard disk and mobile phones.
Veeramani was arrested the next day, after the investigators reportedly found more evidence in the seized gadgets.
Hariharan welcomed Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s directive for a foolproof investigation and to initiate action against all those found responsible. He added that the case should ultimately result in punishment for the accused if the allegations are true.
Meanwhile, DMK president and former chief minister MK Stalin demanded that the accused Veeramani, his associates, or anyone who tried to protect him should escape punishment.
Also Read: Minor girls’ photos go online as police accountability, media ethics take a back seat
“Gem Veeramani has been arrested on charges of engaging in inhuman and despicable acts against minor girls”, he said on X.
“Neither Veeramani, nor those who aided him, nor anyone who attempted to protect him—regardless of what position they hold—should be allowed to escape. All must be brought before the law and given the maximum punishment. This is the official stance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. As the leader of a political movement, the head of a family, and a man of conscience, it is my wish that the outcome of this case be such that no one ever again entertains the thought of committing such crimes,” he added.
Stalin further condemned the “reprehensible act” by a group that spread slander against the DMK with short-term political motives. He clarified the DMK government had not issued any order “to protect anyone in the Veeramani case”.
“In cases of crimes against women and minor girls, perpetrators have been arrested without bias, chargesheets filed, and punished. All these are undeniable facts available in the public domain. There has been no need for the DMK regime to protect anyone”, he further tweeted.
Stalin then targeted the incumbent TVK government.
“Unlike what is happening in the current TVK regime—where, even after affected women have raised sexual assault allegations against party functionaries including assembly members and district secretaries in full media view—no action is taken, and instead, compromises are negotiated to close the cases—such disgraceful acts have not occurred under the DMK regime,” he alleged.
“Therefore, I urge those in the ruling party to stop this despicable act of exploiting the suffering of minor girls as a tool for by-elections, and to cease spreading slander through the media. I request that securing justice for the affected minor girls be the sole objective for all of us.”
The TVK had been questioning the DMK’s silence on the case involving Veeramani.
(Subash Chandra Bose contributed to this report. Edited by Majnu Babu).
