The Tamil Nadu Police on Thursday, September 24, formed a four-member all-woman Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the child sexual assault case and related allegations against Gem Group of Companies chairman R Veeramani, amid scrutiny of the handling of the earlier probe.
Director-General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal ordered the formation of the SIT, which will be headed by Additional Commissioner of Police PC Thenmozhi of the Central Crime Branch. Joint Commissioner Disha Mittal, Superintendent of Police J Mutharasi, and Superintendent of Police VV Geethanjali are the other members.
The formation of the SIT came on the same day that action was taken against three police officers involved in the earlier probe. Additional Director General of Police A Arun and Inspector General of Police/Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City N Kannan were placed under compulsory wait at the office of the DGP. Assistant Commissioner MA Yasmin of the Koyambedu Range was transferred to the Chief Office Vacancy Reserve on administrative grounds.
The action against the officers came amid questions over the handling of the POCSO complaint against Veeramani.
Hours before this, TNM had reported that Tamil Nadu Congress Committee's Scheduled Caste wing president MP Ranjan Kumar had earlier approached then Additional Commissioner of Police N Kannan with a complaint against Veeramani in November 2024. Kannan had told TNM that he escalated the matter to the then Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun.
The case was registered in October 2025 after a child welfare volunteer approached the Anti-Vice Squad of the Chennai police with a pen drive containing a video that purportedly showed a minor girl being sexually assaulted. The volunteer said an unidentified person had handed over the storage device and claimed that the video showed Veeramani allegedly committing a sexual offence against a minor at the house of his associate Shanthi.
The police examined the video and subsequently registered a case. However, the initial investigation did not result in Veeramani's arrest. In February 2026, the police submitted a report seeking to close the case, citing lack of evidence and difficulties in establishing the identity and whereabouts of the minor girl.
The Special POCSO Court rejected the closure report in August and ordered a fresh investigation. The Central Crime Branch subsequently arrested Veeramani, Shanthi, and her husband Mahendra Simhan on August 29.
The fresh investigation uncovered additional digital evidence and statements from other alleged survivors. Police also conducted searches at locations linked to Veeramani and his associates as part of the investigation.
A former employee of Gem Granites, Ganesan, was arrested on September 22 after police allegedly found a video linked to the case on his mobile phone. Investigators are examining how Ganesan obtained the video and why he did not report it to the police.
The SIT will coordinate the investigation and examine the evidence and statements collected so far.
Former Tamil Nadu chief minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin said there had been no attempt to protect anyone in the case during the DMK regime. Stalin said neither Veeramani nor anyone who helped or attempted to protect him should be allowed to escape the law.
“There are attempts to exploit this case for narrow political purposes by spreading false allegations against DMK. I urge those in the ruling party to stop the despicable practice of using the suffering of the minor girls as a tool for the bypoll,” Stalin said.
Stalin said no instruction had been issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and that his position was that everyone involved should be brought before the law and given the maximum punishment.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami also demanded a detailed investigation and strict punishment for those responsible. He said the police should handle such cases with utmost sensitivity and without yielding to any pressure.
“Whoever committed these crimes against women and children, no matter how powerful or influential they are, should not be given any place in this society,” Palaniswami said.
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Anbumani Ramadoss demanded stringent action against all those involved in the alleged sexual abuse of minor girls and called for the investigation to be expedited.
Anbumani alleged that attempts had earlier been made to protect those involved despite evidence of sexual abuse being available. He said those who allegedly assisted in the abuse or attempted to close the case should also be brought before the law, and separate cases should be registered if necessary. He also appreciated the court for its approach towards ensuring justice for the affected children.