Published Nov 14, 2026 | 9:55 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 14, 2026 | 9:55 AM
The police said the SIT was constituted to conduct further investigation into the case against Gem Veeramani and other accused.
The Tamil Nadu government has ordered administrative action against three women police officers who were associated with the earlier investigation into the sexual abuse allegations against Gem Granites founder R Veeramani.
According to orders issued on November 13, Deputy Commissioner of Police V.V. Geethanjali of the Greater Chennai Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police G. Vanitha of the Avadi Police Commissionerate have been brought to the vacancy reserve. Assistant Commissioner of Police V. Rajalakshmi of the Greater Chennai Police has been placed on compulsory wait with immediate effect.
The transfers come amid the ongoing investigation into alleged police inaction and lapses in handling the POCSO complaints against Veeramani.
Geethanjali was initially part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to investigate the case but was subsequently moved out of the team. Rajalakshmi was part of the Anti-Vice Squad that initially investigated the allegations against Veeramani.
The development comes a day after reports emerged that the SIT had named seven police personnel, including former Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun, in connection with alleged lapses in handling the case. The officers are accused of failing to take appropriate action despite having information and evidence relating to the alleged offences.
The SIT’s investigation is examining why the initial investigation failed to identify the survivor and resulted in a closure report being filed before the special POCSO court, which subsequently rejected it and ordered further investigation.
The latest administrative orders are part of the continuing scrutiny of police personnel involved in the handling of the case.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Tamil Nadu Police to investigate the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) cases against Gem Granites founder R Veeramani has filed a chargesheet against him and two of his drivers in a case involving the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old Scheduled Caste girl.
The 720-page final report, filed before the Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under the POCSO Act in Chennai on Wednesday, 11 November, cites 40 witnesses.
The SIT was constituted on 24 September. Subsequently, it registered seven fresh cases involving nine survivors, based on complaints from survivors and their mothers.
In a statement on Thursday, the police said the case was registered on 27 September following a complaint by the survivor’s mother. Veeramani has been named as the first accused (A1), and his drivers, Parthiban and Babu, as the second (A2) and third accused (A3).
Veeramani is accused of sexually assaulting the girl. His drivers allegedly knew about the offence but transported her in a vehicle and dropped her at Veeramani’s residence, where the assault took place.
The three have been charged under Sections 366 and 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC); Sections 5(l), 5(m) and 5(i), read with Sections 6 and 17 of the POCSO Act; and Sections 3(1)(w)(i) and 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose)
