R Veeramani Booked in Eighth POCSO Case

Industrialist R Veeramani, chairman of Gem Group of Companies, has been booked in an eighth case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues its investigation into allegations of sexual assault involving minors, police said on Sunday.

The latest case was registered on October 21, 2026, following a complaint received by the SIT from a survivor who was a minor at the time of the alleged offence. According to police, the complainant alleged that Veeramani sexually assaulted her several years ago at his residence in Gopalapuram, Chennai.

Seven cases had already been registered against Veeramani before the latest complaint, an official said. The investigation has also led to arrests of several associates and other individuals suspected of assisting the alleged offences. Police said complaints involving 12 affected minor girls had been received so far.

The allegations remain subject to the ongoing criminal investigation and judicial process. The police have said that the investigation is nearing completion and that a chargesheet will be submitted to the concerned court soon.

Eighth POCSO Case Registered on October 21

The latest case was registered after the SIT received a complaint from a woman who alleged that she had been sexually assaulted when she was a minor. According to the police account, the alleged incident took place at Veeramani’s residence in Gopalapuram a few years ago.

The case has been registered under the POCSO Act, which provides the legal framework for addressing sexual offences against children. Police said seven cases were already pending against Veeramani before the eighth case was registered.

The new complaint adds to the allegations being investigated by the SIT. The available information does not provide further details about the alleged incident or specify the evidence collected in connection with this particular complaint.

Police have not announced the filing of the final chargesheet at this stage. An official said the investigation into the cases against Veeramani was nearing completion and that the final report would be submitted to the appropriate court soon.

Look Out Circulars Issued Against Five Individuals

In another development, police have issued Look Out Circulars (LOCs) against five individuals who are accused or suspected of being accomplices in cases connected to Veeramani. The notices are intended to prevent the individuals concerned from travelling abroad while the investigation proceeds.

The move forms part of the police effort to ensure that the accused and suspected associates remain available to investigators. The supplied police account did not identify all five individuals covered by the LOCs or specify whether each person faces the same allegations.

Look Out Circulars are used by authorities to flag individuals at immigration checkpoints. In this case, police said the notices were issued because the individuals were accused or suspected of involvement in matters linked to the allegations against Veeramani.

Veeramani and Associates Questioned by Special Investigation Team

Police have arrested Veeramani and several people identified as his associates or former employees. Those named in the investigation include Shanthi, her husband Mahendra Simhan and Veeramani’s former employee Ganeshan.

The four were being questioned by the SIT at Peravallur Police Station, according to the police account. Investigators were using materials seized during raids conducted on October 10 and 11 at Veeramani’s offices and residences in and around Chennai.

The seized materials are being examined as part of the investigation into the complaints. Police have not publicly detailed the full contents of the material or explained how each item relates to the individual cases.

The questioning of the accused and examination of seized material are among the steps being taken before the SIT completes its investigation and submits its final report to the court.

Veeramani’s Daughter Questioned Over Alleged Financial Transactions

Police also confirmed that Archana, Veeramani’s daughter, was detained and questioned on Friday, October 23. According to an official, investigators questioned her in connection with alleged criminal acts and financial transactions by Veeramani that police suspect were intended to evade legal action.

The available information does not specify the transactions under examination or establish whether Archana has been formally charged in connection with the cases. Her questioning forms part of the wider investigation into the allegations and the conduct of people connected to Veeramani.

Police have not provided further details about the outcome of the questioning or announced any additional legal action against her in the supplied account.

Eight People Arrested in the Investigation

The investigation has resulted in the arrests of eight people, according to police. Along with Veeramani, Shanthi, Mahendra Simhan and Ganeshan, three drivers identified as Lasar, Parthiban and Babu have been arrested.

Police allege that the three drivers helped facilitate Veeramani’s sexual assaults by bringing and transporting minor girls. These allegations have not been established as proven facts through a court judgment.

Shaktivel, the manager of Gem Granites, a group entity of Gem Group of Companies, was arrested on October 18. His arrest brought the total number of people arrested in the case to eight.

The arrests indicate that investigators are examining not only the allegations against Veeramani but also whether other individuals helped facilitate the alleged offences. The precise role attributed to each accused will be set out through the investigation and any charges filed before the court.

Police Say Complaints Involve 12 Minor Girls

An official said action had been taken against Veeramani and other accused based on complaints concerning 12 affected minor girls so far. The figure reflects the complaints cited by police and does not, by itself, establish the outcome of the individual cases.

The latest POCSO case is part of a broader investigation into allegations involving minors. The SIT is examining complaints, questioning those arrested and reviewing material collected during searches.

Because the cases involve alleged offences against children, the investigation is being conducted under the POCSO framework. The available account does not provide a complete breakdown of the allegations by complainant, the dates of the alleged offences or the specific charges in each case.

Special Investigation Team Formed on DGP’s Orders

The SIT was constituted on the orders of Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal and reports to Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Amalraj.

The team includes P C Thenmozhi, additional commissioner of police for the Central Crime Branch; Disha Mittal, joint commissioner of police for Law and Order in Chennai West; J Mutharasi, superintendent of police; and B Geetha, deputy commissioner of police.

The team is responsible for investigating the complaints and coordinating the inquiry into the allegations against Veeramani and other accused. Its work has included raids at properties linked to Veeramani, the examination of seized materials and the questioning of people connected to the cases.

Police have said the investigation is approaching completion. The next major procedural step is the submission of the chargesheet to the concerned court, although no specific filing date was provided in the available account.

What Happens Next in the R Veeramani Case?

The SIT is expected to complete its investigation and submit its final report to the court, according to the police official quoted in the account. The chargesheet is expected to set out the allegations and evidence the investigators intend to rely on in the proceedings.

The authorities may continue examining the material seized during the October 10 and 11 raids and assessing the alleged roles of the people arrested or questioned. The LOC notices against five individuals are also intended to address concerns about their availability during the investigation.

The registration of an eighth POCSO case marks a further development in the investigation, with police citing complaints involving 12 minor girls and eight arrests so far. However, the allegations against the accused must be distinguished from findings established in court.

For now, the investigation remains ongoing. Further clarity about the individual allegations, the evidence gathered and the legal action against each person is expected through the formal proceedings and the chargesheet to be filed before the court.