1 day ago
Multiple Survivors Identified in POCSO Case Against Veeramani
Police are investigating allegations against granite businessman R Veeramani.
They say several people may have been sexually assaulted over several years.
Some alleged survivors were children when the incidents happened.
Police also said some survivors came from poor families.
One alleged survivor belongs to a Scheduled Caste community, so investigators added charges under a law protecting Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Police said financial assistance would be provided to that survivor.
A court allowed police to question Veeramani for three days.
Because he is over 80 and has health problems, the questioning must happen inside prison.
Investigators are checking whether other minors may also have been abused.
Police identified multiple alleged survivors in the POCSO investigation against granite businessman R Veeramani.
Several alleged survivors were minors, and police said some came from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Investigators added charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after verifying one victim’s Scheduled Caste status.
A court granted police three days’ custody of Veeramani, with questioning ordered inside Puzhal Central Prison.
Veeramani and alleged accomplices Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan were arrested after police received a video clip linked to an alleged 2019 assault.
- Who
- Granite businessman R Veeramani, alleged accomplices Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan, and multiple alleged survivors are involved in the investigation.
- What
- Police identified multiple alleged survivors, recorded their statements before a court, and added charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
- Where
- The alleged abuse is being investigated in Chennai, while Veeramani is held at Puzhal Central Prison.
- When
- The case was registered in October 2025; the alleged assault linked to the video occurred in 2019, and Veeramani was arrested the month before the reported custody hearing.
- Why
- Police received a video clip that purportedly showed Veeramani sexually assaulting a minor girl and are investigating whether other minors were also abused.
Key facts
- Main accused
- R Veeramani, chairman of Gem Group
- Other accused
- Shanthi, 60, and her husband Mahendra Simhan, 63
- Alleged survivors
- Multiple people were identified; several were reportedly minors when the alleged assaults occurred
- Additional law invoked
- SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
- Police custody
- Three days
- Custody location
- Puzhal Central Prison
- Case registration
- October 2025
