Yet another POCSO case booked against Gem Granites Veeramani

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Greater Chennai Police, which is probing the sexual assault cases against Gem Granites founder R. Veeramani, 84, has registered yet another case against him under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act based on a complaint from a woman in Chennai. This is the fifth case filed against him.

Meanwhile, the legal wing of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Saturday petitioned the Greater Chennai Police and the Special Investigation Team probing the case, seeking an expanded probe into the alleged suppression and cover-up of complaints of sexual assault on minor girls, including the roles of former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, former Law Minister S. Regupathy, and senior police officers.

The petition seeks to ascertain whether the complaint reached Mr. Stalin, who held the Home portfolio, and whether any directions were issued.

The petition also questions how Mr. Regupathy came to comment publicly on the quality of the video evidence in the case.

On August 29, the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit of the CCB arrested Veeramani on charges of sexual assaults on a minor girl, while his associates — Shanthi, 60, and Mahendra Simhan, 63 — were arrested for abetting the industrialist in the offences. The case originated in October 2025 following a receipt of a pen drive containing a video of Veeramani sexually assaulting a minor girl at a house belonging to the house of Shanthi.

Following the order of the special court for POCSO cases, the investigation picked up pace from last August. Subsequently, a fourth accused — Ganesan, who worked for 23 years at Gem Granites, was arrested on September 22 for having an obscene video of Veeramani with a minor girl on his mobile phone and failing to report it to the police. The cases against Veeramani and his associates are being investigated by a SIT led by Additional Commissioner P.C. Thenmozhi.

A senior officer of Greater Chennai Police said already four cases for offences under the POCSO Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) were booked for charges including aggravated penetrative sexual assault and abetting a minor girl to commit suicide. In addition to those cases, yet another case (fifth case) has been registered based on a complaint given by a woman who alleged that she was sexually assaulted. “More complaints are coming in, and they are being duly received. After verification, we have duly register and proceed for further action and investigation,” the officer said.

The first case was registered in October 2025 over the alleged sexual assault of a minor in 2019, followed by another POCSO case concerning an alleged sexual assault in 2024. The third case relates to the alleged sexual abuse of a Class 11 student before her suicide in 2004. The fourth case was registered on September 30 involving a minor girl.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)