Chennai, Oct 15:
Prakash, son of a senior Southern Railway Mazdoor Union (SRMU) leader, has filed an anticipatory bail petition in connection with the cases against granite businessman R Veeramani, who is facing multiple allegations of sexual offences against minors and financial transactions allegedly intended to shield him.
The petition was adjourned to Thursday by Special Judge S Padma, who directed the police to file their response. Prakash is the son of SRMU trade union leader N Kannai ah. He is suspected of acting as a facilitator in financial transactions involving Veeramani, with investigators probing an alleged money trail running into crores of rupees.
Senior counsel Abudukumar Rajarathinam, appearing for Prakash, submitted that his client had no involvement in the alleged offences and that the accusations were baseless. He argued that the financial transactions between Prakash and Veeramani were purely business-related and unrelated to the alleged crimes. He also said Prakash had appeared for police questioning and cooperated with the investigation.
The prosecution, represented by advocate Anita, sought time to ascertain whether Prakash had appeared for questioning and to file its response. Police had earlier issued summons to him, but he was reportedly staying abroad.
Veeramani was arrested in a case relating to the alleged sexual assault of a minor and has since been implicated in several other cases. Police said he was formally arrested on Wednesday in a case involving the alleged abetment of the minor’s suicide in 2004.
The case gained momentum after a child rights activist lodged a complaint and submitted a pen drive containing video footage allegedly showing the sexual assault of a minor. Veeramani, along with his acquaintances Shanthi and her husband Mahendra Simkan, was arrested on August 29. All three were subsequently detained under the Goondas Act after further complaints were received and victims’ statements recorded.
Veeramani’s former employee Ganesan was arrested on September 22 for allegedly withholding information from investigators about videos in his possession. Three of the businessman’s drivers — Lazar, Parthiban and Babu — were arrested on October 5 for allegedly facilitating the sexual offences by bringing minor girls to him.
Statements made by the drivers led to the formal arrest of Veeramani and Shanthi in another case at Puzhal Central Prison on October 8. They were remanded in judicial custody until October 21.