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The Madras High Court on Wednesday, September 30, directed the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that videos related to the child sexual assault case involving granite businessman R Veeramani are removed from the social media platforms of television channels. The court gave the order after it was informed that several clips remained online despite an earlier order.
Justice V Lakshminarayanan was hearing a plea by Tulir Charitable Trust seeking restrictions on the publication and circulation of videos connected to the case. On September 24, the court had restrained media outlets, intermediaries and social media platforms from publishing, circulating or disclosing any video touching upon the case and directed entities that had already uploaded such material to remove it immediately.
On Wednesday, the court was informed that several private national news channels had not removed clips related to the case, potentially exposing the victims. Advocate Deepika Murali, appearing for Tulir Charitable Trust, said that around 21 handles on X continued to carry the clips, with most of the accounts belonging to India Today. She also alleged that some television channels had aired material involving the child survivors.
The counsel further submitted that media organisations which had obtained evidence in the form of videos should have reported the material to the police or investigating agency. They need not disclose their sources but are duty-bound to report the evidence to the investigating agency, she submitted.
The court criticised what it described as a “voyeuristic urge” among some electronic media channels to know what was happening in the ongoing investigation. Justice Lakshminarayanan directed the state government to take appropriate action and ensure that the videos were removed from the social media platforms of television channels.
The court, however, clarified that the media would be free to report statements issued by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) every week on developments in the investigation. The matter has been posted for a final hearing on October 6.
The September 25 order had also clarified that the restrained entities could discuss issues relating to child abuse as long as the reports did not touch upon the factual matrix of the Veeramani case.
The case came to light after an NGO volunteer approached the Anti-Vice Squad of the Greater Chennai police in October 2025 with a pen drive containing a video purportedly showing the sexual assault of a minor girl. Police initially sought to close the case, citing difficulties in identifying the girl, but a special POCSO court rejected the closure report and ordered further investigation.
Veeramani was arrested on August 29 along with M Shanthi and her husband, Mahendra Simhan. They were booked under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology Act. Police subsequently invoked provisions of the SC/ST Act after establishing that one of the survivors belonged to a Scheduled Caste community. A former employee, Ganesan, was also arrested on September 22 in connection with possession of the video and failure to inform the police.
The investigation has since expanded, with fresh complaints alleging sexual abuse of minors reaching the SIT. Police registered another POCSO case based on a complaint by the mother of a minor girl, while another complaint relates to a minor girl who died by suicide in 2014.
An all-woman SIT was constituted by DGP Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal on September 24 to investigate the Veeramani case and related allegations. Deputy Commissioner of Police VV Geethanjali, who had previously handled the case during the earlier investigation, subsequently sought to recuse herself from the SIT. She has since been replaced by DCP V Geetha.
On Wednesday, the High Court also declined to transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), saying the SIT needed time to conduct its probe. The court noted that the SIT had been constituted only four days earlier.
“The special investigation team (SIT) was formed four days ago. They do not have a crystal ball or magic wand to get the evidence they need with a wave of their hands,” Justice Lakshminarayanan said.
The judge said the investigation needed “breathing space” and that the sensitive case should not be used for publicity, particularly as children from the Scheduled Caste community were involved. The court directed YouTuber R Varaaki, who had sought a CBI probe, to approach the SIT and submit the evidence he claimed to possess regarding the alleged involvement of five officials in a cover-up.
State Public Prosecutor R John Sathyan told the court that anyone possessing material connected to the crime was free to approach the SIT and submit it. The court adjourned the CBI plea by a week.
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