The Greater Chennai Police has widened its probe in the POCSO case against Gem Granites chairman R. Veeramani to examine alleged financial transactions involving police officers, political functionaries, and people in media houses, who are said to have been linked to the granite baron.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay summoned Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A. Amalraj and directed him to take action against those found responsible for allegedly suppressing or delaying the case. The conversation lasted about two minutes, during which the Commissioner briefed him on the developments. However, the allegations regarding the suppression of the case have not yet been established.
Sources said Mr. Vijay instructed the Commissioner to ensure that no one involved in the case was let off and directed officials to expedite the investigation and make it watertight.
The Chief Minister also sought frequent updates on the probe, and directed the police to ensure the protection of survivors and handle the case with sensitivity.
Additional Commissioner of Police (South) Narenthiran Nayar has been tasked with leading the team probing the financial transactions of Veeramani. The investigation follows the registration of a case on October 7, 2025, after a pen drive containing a video of the alleged sexual assault of a minor was submitted to the Anti-Vice Squad, and the subsequent arrest of Veeramani in August.
Sources said the accused owns substantial assets in India and abroad, and that the investigators have detected heavy financial transactions during the intervening period. The probe is examining allegations of money transfers involving police officers, influential media personalities, and political leaders.
A property on the East Coast Road was allegedly sold by the accused for ₹90 crore through the son of a prominent trade union leader. The transaction is also under investigation, sources said.
Another team headed by the Additional Commissioner of Police, Central Crime Branch, P.C. Thenmozhi, and Deputy Commissioner of Police V.V. Geethanjali is probing the alleged sexual offences.
Sources said the police were likely to seek custodial interrogation of Veeramani and his associate. A 50-year-old woman has also lodged a complaint against Veeramani.
Ministers blame DMK
Meanwhile, Ministers Aadhav Arjuna and C.T.R Nirmal Kumar criticised the DMK government over its alleged failure to act against Veeramani.
Mr. Nirmal Kumar alleged that the case was comparable to the Pollachi sexual assault case. He questioned how Veeramani managed to escape action when the Law and Order Department was under the direct control of then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin during the previous DMK regime.
Mr. Aadhav Arjuna questioned why, during the previous DMK regime, the police allegedly attempted to close it in favour of Veeramani, despite an FIR having been registered over allegations of sexual abuse on minor girls. He demanded that Mr. Stalin, who was Chief Minister and held the Home portfolio at the time, explain why such action was taken.
Minister Rajmohan also questioned the Communist parties’ position on the case. “Do the Communists condemn the alleged sexual abuse and POCSO case involving Veeramani, which was covered up during the previous regime, or not? I am not asking this out of anger. I want them to state their position on the issue. I am keen to know what their stand is,” he said.
CPI(M)’s stand
CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam has urged the government to order a detailed investigation into the case and ensure that all those responsible are punished.
Speaking to reporters at a protest, Mr. Shanmugam said, “A POCSO case has been registered against Veeramani and an investigation is under way. A sexual abuse complaint was also made against him in 2013, when Jayalalithaa was Chief Minister. We do not know what happened to that complaint,” he said.
“Another complaint was reportedly lodged in 2025, when M.K. Stalin was Chief Minister, but no action was taken. Thus, complaints were made under different governments, but the accused appears to have escaped without proper action being taken,” he added.
“Why was no action taken on the complaints received during the previous regimes? Who exerted pressure, on behalf of the then ruling party, on the police officers who received the complaints to prevent them from taking action? If there was repeated allegations of sexual offences, it indicates that the alleged abuse was carried out on a much larger scale. It is difficult to believe that Veeramani alone was involved,” Mr. Shanmugam said.
“Therefore, the government led by the TVK should order a detailed investigation into the police officers, ruling party functionaries, and others who may have helped suppress the matter, and ensure that everyone responsible is punished,” he said.
DMK legal wing secretary N.R. Elango condemned Mr. Kumar’s allegations. He alleged that the Law Minister was making false and defamatory statements to gain political mileage in the upcoming byelection.
Mr. Elango clarified that the case was never dropped during the DMK regime and that the filing of the final report was delayed at the time only because sufficient evidence had not been obtained.
Published – September 22, 2026 12:06 am IST
