Published Oct 18, 2026 | 8:51 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 18, 2026 | 8:51 PM
The police said they had received complaints involving 11 minor girls and that the investigation was continuing.
Synopsis: A seventh POCSO case has been registered against Gem Granites owner R Veeramani after another minor girl alleged sexual abuse, taking the number of survivors in the case to 11. The Greater Chennai Police arrested Sakthivel, manager of Gem Granites, for allegedly assisting Veeramani and are examining financial transactions suspected to have helped him evade legal action.
A seventh case has been registered against Gem Granites owner R Veeramani under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Greater Chennai Police said on Sunday, 18 October.
The fresh case follows a complaint by another minor girl, who alleged that the incident took place at the residence of Shanthi, a female friend of Veeramani and a co-accused in the case.
Separately, the police arrested Sakthivel, manager of Gem Granites, on Sunday for allegedly assisting Veeramani. Investigators are also examining financial transactions allegedly routed through Sakthivel to help Veeramani evade legal action.
The police searched Veeramani’s residence on Lloyds Road, his farmhouse in Kanathur and the office of Chamundeeswari Natural Stone, seizing evidence related to the cases.
The police said they had received complaints involving 11 minor girls and that the investigation was continuing.
Veeramani, 84, was initially arrested on 29 August along with Shanthi and Mahendrasimhan, following the recovery of video evidence from a pen drive received by the Anti-Vice Squad (AVS).
Ganesh, who allegedly possessed another video related to the case but did not inform the police, was arrested on 22 September. Drivers Lazar, Parthiban and Babu, who allegedly brought minor girls to facilitate the offences, were arrested on 5 October.
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The first case against Veeramani was registered in October 2025 after a child welfare volunteer approached an AVS inspector and handed over a pen drive. The volunteer said an unidentified person had delivered the storage device to his office.
The person who delivered the pen drive reportedly said it contained a video showing Veeramani allegedly committing a sexual offence against a minor girl in the bedroom of his associate Shanthi’s house. On examining the footage, the police found a video of an adult man allegedly committing a sexual offence against a minor girl.
The AVS of the Central Crime Branch (CCB), Greater Chennai Police, registered a case on 7 October 2025.
The initial investigation did not result in Veeramani’s arrest. In February 2026, the police submitted a report seeking to drop further action, citing “lack of evidence” and difficulties in establishing the identity and whereabouts of the minor girl involved.
The special court dealing with cases under the POCSO Act rejected the closure report in August and ordered a fresh investigation. Following the order, the CCB arrested Veeramani, Shanthi and her husband, Simhan.
The renewed investigation uncovered additional digital evidence and statements from other alleged survivors.
The CCB summoned Assistant Commissioner Yasmin and Inspectors Mahesh Kumar and Rajalakshmi, who handled the original investigation, to question them about how the complaint was handled and why the police recommended closing the case.
Yasmin was subsequently transferred to the Chief Office Vacancy Reserve on “administrative grounds.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
