Chennai, Oct 15:
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing sexual abuse allegations against granite businessman R Veeramani, 84, has formally arrested him in a case relating to the alleged abetment of a minor girl’s suicide in 2004.
Veeramani is facing seven cases, including the suicide abetment case. Police have so far identified 10 survivors who were allegedly sexually abused by the businessman.
According to the investigation, the girl’s mother had lodged a complaint several years ago and approached the police again after allegations against Veeramani resurfaced. The case, initially registered as an unnatural death in 2004, was reopened following fresh allegations that the girl had been sexually abused before her death.
The investigation into the businessman began after a pen drive containing video footage allegedly showing the sexual assault of a minor was submitted to the city police in October 2025. A case was registered on October 7, 2025. However, the police filed a closure report in February 2026, stating that the video was unclear. The special court rejected the report and directed further investigation, following which the police identified Veeramani as the man in the video.
Veeramani and his associates have been in prison since August 29. The investigation has also led to police questioning senior officers, including former Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun and IGs N Kannan and A Radhika, over the handling of earlier complaints.
The SIT is continuing its investigation into the allegations and related cases.