Sixth POCSO case registered against Gem Granites chairman Veeramani

The Greater Chennai Police have registered a sixth case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against Gem Granites chairman R Veeramani on Saturday, October 10, in connection with allegations of sexual abuse of minor girls. Police sources said on Sunday, October 11, that the fresh case was registered based on statements by two minors.

According to The Hindu, the allegations made by the two minors were clubbed and investigated as one case. With the registration of the latest case, the police are investigating the alleged sexual exploitation of 10 minor girls across six POCSO cases against the octogenarian businessman. Veeramani has also been booked in a case of abetment of suicide involving a minor in 2004.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) registered the latest case following a complaint by a mother who alleged that her daughter was sexually abused when she was a minor. The child had earlier lived in Chennai before moving to another district.

Investigators are expected to take custody of Veeramani in the second POCSO case for questioning. According to The Hindu, a senior police officer said, “We have filed a request in the designated court requesting custody of the accused for questioning in another case.”

The police have also searched Veeramani’s residence on Lloyd’s Road in Royapettah, Chennai, based on specific information. 

Veeramani and his accomplices, Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan, were arrested on August 28. 

The arrests followed an investigation by the Greater Chennai Police’s Anti-Vice Squad, which reportedly found video evidence on a previously recovered pen drive. Veeramani and Shanthi were subsequently arrested in another related case on October 8 and lodged at Puzhal Central Prison.

Veeramani and his associates were later detained under the Goondas Act. Police sources said the accused would be formally arrested in the remaining cases as the investigation progresses.

The investigation is examining allegations that Veeramani’s associates facilitated the alleged abuse at a house rented by the businessman.

The case first came to light on October 6, 2025, when a child rights activist approached the Chennai police with a pen drive containing video footage allegedly showing a minor girl being sexually assaulted. The police registered a case on October 7, 2025, but later sought to close the investigation after failing to identify the girl in the video. The Special POCSO Court rejected the closure report on August 19, 2026, and directed the police to conduct further investigation. The subsequent probe led to the identification of the survivor and Veeramani’s arrest in August 2026.