Chennai: Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police A. Amalraj has set up a special team to investigate the charges of police officials and others receiving bribe during the DMK government to cover up the sexual assault cases against industrialist R. Veeramani alias ‘Gem Veeramani’ (84) against whom cases have been filed under POCSO. His associate Shanthi (60) and her husband Mahendra Simhan (63) were also accused in the case.
Although the industrialist was arrested on August 29, the first case was filed against him on October 6, 2025, following a complaint by a child rights activist. But, the police who investigated the case filed a report in the special court recommending that further action should be dropped in the case.
The police who examined a digital video recorder said they could not recover the original recording or any other relevant footage. They also said they were unable to identify the girl who was the victim and there were no grounds to proceed further. The special court rejected the report and the case was reopened in July 2026.
During the fresh investigation, the police searched Shanthi’s residence and recovered the original footage of the alleged sexual assault form an electronic device and mobile records. On August 29, the police declared that the person identified in the video as Veeramani and said several minor girls were brought to the house and sexually assaulted.
The police also said they collected the photos of minor girls and charged Shanthi and Mahendran with assisting the crime. Till now, seven more minor girls who were victims had been identified and the girls between the age of 12 and 16 at the time of crime had been lured with small amounts of money, sports shoes, chocolates and mobile phones.
The earlier decision of the police during the DMK government has come under scathing criticism since the case would have been closed if the special court judge accepted the earlier report of the police. Following allegations of police officials and some others taking large amounts of money to cover up the crime, the Commissioner of Police had formed a special team to investigate the bribery complaints.
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