R. Veeramani Slapped with 7th POCSO Charge

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged sexual exploitation of underage girls has arrested Sakthivel, a manager at Gem Granites, the firm founded by industrialist R. Veeramani. Following fresh testimony recorded from another victim, law enforcement authorities have registered an additional case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against Veeramani. This marks the seventh POCSO charge filed against the prominent Chennai businessman, as investigators widen their scrutiny into an extensive ring involving business executives, female facilitators, and logistic conduits.

Widening SIT Dragnet: Shanthi's Residence Emerges as Key Site in 11 Probes

The registration of the seventh POCSO case marks an expanding phase in the multi-agency inquiry led by the Greater Chennai Police:

• Pattern of Offense: Police officials confirmed that the latest incident also transpired at the residence of Veeramani's key female associate, Shanthi, which allegedly served as the central location for facilitating offenses against minors.

• Eleven Total Complaints Under Scanner: Investigators are examining formal allegations and statements linked to 11 underage girls, piecing together timeline details and forensic material to substantiate systemic exploitation.

• Manager's Direct Culpability: SIT officers took Sakthivel into custody on Sunday after preliminary questioning indicated he aided Veeramani and actively assisted in facilitating the operations under scrutiny.

Digital Evidence Trail: Pen Drives, Puzhal Custody, and Logistical Conduits

The broader criminal probe first escalated through forensic recoveries made by the Greater Chennai Police Anti-Vice Squad:

• Initial Breakthrough on August 29: The investigation gathered momentum when Anti-Vice Squad personnel retrieved explicit video clips stored on a pen drive, leading directly to the initial arrests of Veeramani, Shanthi, and co-accused Mahendra Simhan.

• Suppression of Evidence: On September 22, authorities arrested Ganesan, who was remanded to Puzhal Central Prison for possessing incriminating digital recordings without alerting law enforcement agencies.

• Transport Network Busted: Deepening forensic analysis led to the arrest of three drivers—Lazarus, Parthiban, and Babu—on October 5 for ferrying underage victims and providing ground logistics to the primary accused.

Raids on Lloyds Road, Kanathur Farmhouse & Chamundeshwari Office

To secure corroborating material, the SIT executed coordinated search warrants across commercial and residential premises linked to the granite tycoon:

• Multi-Location Search Operations: Law enforcement units conducted intensive searches at Veeramani's residence on Lloyds Road, his coastal farmhouse property in Kanathur, and the corporate offices of Chamundeshwari Natural Stone.

• Crucial Material Seizures: SIT teams confiscated digital drives, operational records, and administrative documents during the multi-site raids, which investigators state directly connect corporate personnel to the facilitation of offenses.

• Further Legal Proceedings: Following a two-day custodial interrogation of Veeramani inside Puzhal Central Prison, authorities are processing additional remands as they prepare charge sheets under the POCSO Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.