Chennai, Oct 1:
Special Court for POCSO Act cases has dismissed the bail petitions filed by three accused in the case registered against granite businessman R Veeramani.
Judge S Padma dismissed the petitions filed by Shanthi, her husband Mahendra Simhan, and Veeramani’s assistant Ganesan.
Counsel for the petitioners argued that the accused had not been properly arrested or produced before the court within 24 hours. Since police had completed their interrogation, there was no need for their continued custody, the counsel submitted.
Opposing the pleas, the State police said the accused could influence witnesses, threaten the minor girls and their families, or flee abroad if released on bail. The prosecution also submitted that the investigation was still at an initial stage and sought dismissal of the petitions.
The case came to light in October 2025 after a pen drive containing a video clip purportedly showing an elderly man sexually assaulting a minor girl was sent to the Intelligence and Technology Police Unit (ITPU). Police identified the man in the video as Veeramani.
The Central Crime Branch’s Anti-Vice Squad registered a case on October 7, 2025, based on a complaint by a social activist. However, no immediate action was taken, according to police sources.
The case was later transferred to the ITPU, which arrested Veeramani, Mahendra Simhan and Shanthi on August 29 under provisions of the POCSO Act, IPC and Information Technology Act in connection with the alleged sexual assault of minor girls.
Shanthi, Mahendra Simhan and Ganesan subsequently approached the POCSO court seeking bail.