Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Ministers Challenge Regupathy Over Veeramani POCSO Evidence
This report is about a disagreement over a child-protection case involving R Veeramani and other people.
Police say a video involving a minor was found on former employee Ganesan’s phone.
Ganesan was arrested for possessing the video and not reporting it.
Veeramani, Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan were arrested earlier and sent to judicial custody.
Ministers R Nirmal Kumar and A Rajmohan said the video should be investigated rather than dismissed as unclear.
They accused the previous DMK government of slowing the case and protecting powerful people.
Former minister S Regupathy rejected those accusations.
He said the earlier government followed legal procedures and needed stronger evidence.
He also said revealing sensitive details could make it harder to protect victims and prosecute offenders.
Tamil Nadu ministers R Nirmal Kumar and A Rajmohan criticized former DMK minister S Regupathy’s description of video evidence as “shadowy” or unclear.
They accused the previous DMK administration of delaying the investigation, attempting to file a closure report and protecting influential people; Regupathy denied the allegations.
Police arrested former Gem Granites employee Ganesan after finding a video involving a minor on his mobile phone, alleging he possessed it and failed to report it.
R Veeramani, Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan were arrested on August 29 and remanded to Puzhal Central Prison in the POCSO case.
Regupathy defended the earlier investigation, saying police registered an FIR promptly and sought stronger legal evidence, while also warning that public disclosure could harm the case.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu ministers R Nirmal Kumar and A Rajmohan, former DMK minister S Regupathy, granite industrialist R Veeramani, associates Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan, and former employee Ganesan.
- What
- A political dispute over video evidence and the handling of a POCSO investigation involving Veeramani and associates.
- When
- The ministers’ comments were reported on September 22 and 23; Veeramani, Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan were arrested on August 29, while Ganesan was arrested on September 22 according to the reports.
- Where
- The investigation and arrests took place in Chennai, Tamil Nadu; the accused were lodged in Puzhal Central Prison.
- Why
- The ministers demanded accountability and a thorough investigation, while Regupathy said the earlier probe sought legally robust evidence and that publicizing sensitive details could damage the case.
Government Ministers’ Claims
Regupathy’s Defense
Quality of video evidence
Government Ministers’ Claims
The ministers rejected Regupathy’s characterization of the footage as “shadowy” or unclear and said evidence should be properly investigated rather than dismissed.
Regupathy’s Defense
Regupathy said the video lacked sufficient clarity and probative value, questioning whether it could support the case.
Handling of the investigation
Government Ministers’ Claims
Nirmal Kumar and Rajmohan alleged that the previous DMK administration stalled the probe, attempted to close the case and sought to protect influential people.
Regupathy’s Defense
Regupathy said police registered an FIR promptly and delayed action only to secure stronger legal evidence, denying that the DMK had links to Veeramani or Gem Granites.
Public disclosure of case details
Government Ministers’ Claims
The ministers emphasized transparency, accountability and protection for victims and witnesses while saying no politically influential person would be spared.
Regupathy’s Defense
Regupathy condemned the public disclosure of sensitive POCSO details, warning that it could compromise the investigation and help perpetrators avoid justice.
- Case
- A POCSO case involving R Veeramani, Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan.
- Recent arrest
- Former Gem Granites employee Ganesan was arrested after police found a video involving a minor on his mobile phone.
- Earlier arrests
- Veeramani, Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan were arrested on August 29.
- Ministers’ allegation
- R Nirmal Kumar and A Rajmohan accused the previous DMK administration of delaying the investigation and shielding influential people.
- Regupathy’s response
- S Regupathy denied links between the DMK and Veeramani and said the previous investigation followed legal procedure.
- Closure report
- The reports say police filed a closure report in February 2026, but a Special POCSO Court rejected it and ordered a wider investigation.
- Custody
- Ganesan and the three earlier accused were lodged in Puzhal Central Prison following court orders.