Published Aug 30, 2026 | 1:16 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 30, 2026 | 1:16 PM
Police found that Veeramani had rented a house in Teynampet where he allegedly assaulted minor girls.
Synopsis: Businessman Veeramani and two associates, Shanthi and Mahendra Simkan, have been arrested by Chennai police under the POCSO Act over alleged sexual offences against minor girls. Police said a video led to the investigation, while searches yielded photographs and other evidence. The three were remanded in judicial custody as investigations continue.
Founder of Gems Granites, R. Veeramani, and two of his associates have been arrested by the Anti-Vice Squad of Greater Chennai Police (GCP) in connection with a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to police, the case was registered in October 2025, after a child welfare volunteer approached an inspector of the anti-vice squad and handed over a pen drive. He said the pen drive was given to him by an unidentified person who had come to his office.
The unidentified person reportedly stated that the pen drive contained a video showing prominent industrialist Veeramani allegedly committing a sexual offence against a minor girl in the bedroom of the house of his associate, Shanthi. On examining the video, the police found footage showing an adult man allegedly committing a sexual offence against a minor girl.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered on October 7, 2025, by the Anti-Vice Squad of the Central Crime Branch, Greater Chennai Police.
However, after inquiry, the squad sought closure of the case, citing ‘lack of evidence.’ In a closure report filed before the special POCSO court in Chennai, the investigative agency submitted that the incident recorded in the video had occurred in 2019 and there was no information about the identity and the whereabouts of the minor girl involved. The agency also cited eyewitness statements and statements by the accused -Veeramani, Shanti and her husband Mahendra Simkan- to claim that the man in the video was not Veeramani.
However, the court rejected the report on August 19 and ordered further investigation into the incident, giving the agency a four-week ultimatum.
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On August 19, the police issued a statement saying they were able to establish the identity of the man seen in the video as industrialist Veeramani.
Police found that he had rented a house in Teynampet and entrusted its management to co-accused Shanthi and Mahendra Simkan. The investigation revealed that several minor girls had been brought to the house, where Veeramani allegedly committed sexual offences against them. Video evidence relating to an offence against one of the minor girls was also seized.
During searches of the residences and offices of the accused, police seized several important pieces of evidence, including photographs of the minor girls and women allegedly connected with the case and other related material.
Veeramani, Shanthi and Simkan were arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
A detailed investigation into the alleged offences is underway.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
