Published Sep 25, 2026 | 10:50 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 25, 2026 | 10:51 AM
Director-General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal ordered the formation of the SIT, comprising four women police officers.
Synopsis: Tamil Nadu Police have formed a four-member SIT to investigate the POCSO case against Gem Group of Companies chairman Veeramani. The move follows scrutiny of the handling of the case and action against officers involved in the previous probe into the case, which was registered in October 2025.
The Tamil Nadu Police on Thursday, 24 September, formed a four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the POCSO case against Gem Group of Companies chairman Veeramani.
Director-General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal ordered the formation of the SIT, comprising four women police officers — Additional Commissioner PC Thenmozhi, Joint Commissioner Disha Mittal, and Superintendents of Police J Mutharasi and VV Geethanjali.
The formation of the SIT came on the same day action was taken against three police officers involved in the previous probe of the case, following scrutiny over the handling of the POCSO complaint.
Additional Director-General of Police A Arun was placed under compulsory wait at the office of the DGP/Head of Police Force in Chennai. N Kannan, Inspector-General of Police/Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City, was also placed under compulsory wait at the DGP’s office. Arun had earlier served as Chennai Police Commissioner.
Congress functionary MP Ranjan Kumar had said that he submitted a complaint to Kannan, who was then Additional Commissioner, in November 2024.
Assistant Commissioner MA Yasmin of the Koyambedu Range, Greater Chennai Police, was also transferred on Thursday to the Chief Office Vacancy Reserve on administrative grounds, with immediate effect.
In October 2025, a child welfare volunteer approached an inspector of the Anti-Vice Squad and handed over a pen drive. The volunteer said an unidentified person had delivered the storage device to his office.
According to the information given to the police, the unidentified person said the pen drive contained a video showing industrialist Veeramani allegedly committing a sexual offence against a minor girl in the bedroom of the house of his associate, Shanthi.
The police examined the video and found footage of an adult man allegedly committing a sexual offence against a minor girl. The Anti-Vice Squad of the Central Crime Branch, Greater Chennai Police, subsequently registered the case.
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 POCSO court rejected the closure report in August and ordered a fresh investigation. The CCB subsequently arrested Veeramani, Shanthi and her husband, Mahendra Simhan, on 29 August.
The fresh investigation uncovered additional digital evidence and statements from other alleged survivors.
The police later arrested Ganesan, a former associate of Veeramani, alleging that he possessed a video involving a minor and had failed to inform the authorities.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose)
