Chennai, Sep 24:
The POCSO case involving 84-year-old granite industrialist R Veeramani has widened considerably, with the Central Crime Branch arresting his former employee, conducting fresh searches, tracing alleged survivors and examining the role of those who handled the case at an earlier stage.
What began with a pen drive handed over to a child-rights activist in October 2025 has now developed into a wider investigation involving alleged sexual offences against minors, digital evidence, the role of associates and questions over why an earlier police attempt to close the case was rejected by a Special POCSO Court.
The case has also triggered a political confrontation between the ruling TVK and the opposition DMK, with both sides trading allegations over the handling of the investigation during the previous government and the manner in which the present government is pursuing it.
From Pen Drive to Arrest
The case was registered in October 2025 after a child-rights volunteer approached the Chennai police with a pen drive containing footage purportedly showing a minor girl being sexually assaulted. Police subsequently identified the man seen in the footage as Veeramani, according to investigators.
Veeramani, along with Shanthi and her husband Mahendra Simhan, was arrested on August 29. Police alleged that the couple managed a Teynampet premises linked to Veeramani and had facilitated the alleged offences. All three were remanded in judicial custody.
The investigation later expanded after police traced the girl allegedly seen in the original footage. Her statement was recorded before a Judicial Magistrate, while investigators began examining statements from other suspected survivors, keeping their identities confidential. Police have said that more than seven survivors have now been identified.
Court Rejected Closure Report
A major turning point came when police initially sought to close the case, citing difficulties in identifying or tracing the girl in the video and insufficient evidence.
The Special POCSO Court rejected the closure report and ordered further investigation. The renewed probe subsequently led to fresh searches and the recovery of digital material that investigators say strengthened the case against Veeramani.
Investigators are now examining whether the alleged offences extended beyond the original location, whether other persons were involved and whether evidence was concealed or withheld.
Probe Widens
The CCB has conducted searches at several premises linked to Veeramani, including his office and the Teynampet property. Electronic devices, documents and other material have been seized for examination.
The investigation has also moved beyond the original video. Ganesan, a former Gem Granites employee who had worked with the company for about 23 years, was arrested after investigators allegedly found another video involving Veeramani and a minor on his mobile phone. Police are examining how the recording came into his possession and why it was not reported.
Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan were on Thursday granted three days of police custody by the Special POCSO Court. The CCB told the court that it needed to establish the number of minors who may have been affected, the period over which the alleged offences took place and whether others were involved.
Police Handling Under Scanner
The investigation has also turned the spotlight on police officers who handled the case during its earlier stages.
On Thursday, the Tamil Nadu government placed senior IPS officers A Arun and N Kannan on compulsory wait with immediate effect. Arun was serving as Additional DGP and Director of the Tamil Nadu Police Academy, while Kannan was Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City.
Rajeev Kumar, DGP (Training), was given full additional charge of the Police Academy, while IG R.V. Ramya Bharathi was given additional charge as Coimbatore City Police Commissioner.
The action came amid scrutiny of the earlier handling of the case. Congress functionary M.P. Ranjan Kumar has claimed that he alerted Chennai police about allegations against Veeramani in November 2024. The government action does not itself establish wrongdoing by the officers, and the circumstances surrounding the earlier handling remain under examination.
DMK Rejects Allegations
The case has become a political flashpoint, with the TVK government and its leaders questioning why police had earlier sought to close the case.
The DMK has rejected allegations that the previous government attempted to protect Veeramani. Former minister S. Raghupathy defended the handling of the case, while DMK leaders said the FIR was registered in October 2025 and the police acted on the evidence available at that stage.
DMK president M.K. Stalin said no instruction had been issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case. He said Veeramani and anyone who assisted or attempted to protect him should face the law, but accused the ruling party of using the suffering of the minor girls for political purposes ahead of the by-elections.
TVK Steps Up Attack
The ruling side has questioned the earlier closure attempt and demanded that those responsible for any lapse in the investigation be identified.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has reviewed the case with senior police officials and directed that action be taken against anyone found responsible. The government has maintained that the investigation will be pursued thoroughly and that those responsible should face the law.
Questions That Remain
As the investigation widens, several questions remain: Why could the girl in the original video not initially be traced? Why was a closure report filed? What led the Special POCSO Court to reject it? How was fresh digital evidence recovered, and were there attempts to suppress or conceal evidence?
The CCB is now examining the alleged network around Veeramani, the role of his associates, the circulation of videos and possible financial links.
The allegations against the accused remain matters for investigation and adjudication. The immediate challenge for investigators is to establish the complete chain of events, protect the alleged survivors and ensure that any person found responsible is dealt with according to law.
With the case becoming a major political issue ahead of the October 6 by-elections, the investigation has acquired an additional layer of public scrutiny. But the ultimate test will be the evidence placed before the court and the outcome of the judicial process.