Veeramani’s drivers arrested for allegedly transporting minor girls to him

Three longtime drivers of Gem Granites founder R Veeramani were arrested on October 5 in connection with the POCSO cases against him.

The men have been identified as Lazar, Parthiban and Babu. This brings the total number of people arrested in the case so far to seven.

According to the police, Lazar has worked for Veeramani for 23 years, while Babu has worked for eight years. The duration of Parthiban’s employment with Veeramani is yet to be verified.

The three drivers had allegedly been assigned to escort minor girls from their homes to Veeramani's guest house in Teynampet. 

The three were arrested after previously being questioned by the Anti-Vice Squad and the Special Investigation Team (SIT). 

The SIT also searched their residences and seized eight mobile phones and 55 documents pertaining to the case, police said. 

Earlier, Veeramani’s former employee, Ganesan (42), was also arrested after police allegedly found video clips involving a minor girl on his phone.

Veeramani (84) was arrested on August 29 along with his associates M Shanthi (60) and her husband Mahendra Simhan (63). 

Veeramani is accused of sexually assaulting minor girls, while Shanthi and Simhan are alleged to have abetted him.

The three were initially remanded in judicial custody and lodged at Puzhal Central Prison. They were subsequently detained under the Goondas Act on October 1.

The case first came to light after a child rights activist submitted a complaint to the Chennai police on October 6, 2025, along with a pen drive containing video footage allegedly showing Veeramani sexually abusing a minor girl at the rented residences of Shanthi and Simhan.

The police registered an FIR on October 7, 2025. The investigation initially came under scrutiny after the Chennai police filed a ‘further action dropped’ report before the Special Court for POCSO cases in February 2026, seeking to close the case.

The court rejected the closure report and directed the police to conduct a further investigation. The subsequent probe led to the identification of several alleged survivors and the arrest of Veeramani and his associates.

The Chennai police has said that five cases have so far been registered against Veeramani and the other accused based on complaints from minor girls and their relatives.

To receive information about other affected minor girls, the police have also introduced a WhatsApp helpline — 93453 19676.