Chennai Police Arrest Granite Baron in Probe Into Sexual Abuse of Minor Girls

Chennai, Oct 17: The Chennai Police have arrested R. Veeramani, Chairman of the Gem Group and Managing Director of the city-based Gem Granites, along with two others in connection with allegations of sexual offences involving minor girls.

Police said on Saturday that Veeramani and his alleged associates, Shanthi and her husband Mahendra Simhan, were taken into custody after an investigation that began nearly a year ago. The three have been remanded in judicial custody, police added.

According to the police, a Chennai-based activist had approached the Inspector of the Anti-Vice Squad on October 6, 2025, saying an unidentified man had left a pen drive at his office. The man reportedly claimed the pen drive contained footage showing Veeramani committing a sexual offence against a minor girl.

After examining the video, police registered a case with the Central Crime Branch's Anti-Vice Squad on October 7, 2025. During the probe, the man in the video was identified as Veeramani, police said.

Investigators alleged that Veeramani had rented a house in Teynampet and had entrusted its management to Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan. It is alleged that several minor girls were brought to this house and that sexual offences were committed there. Police also said that another video relating to an alleged offence involving a minor girl was recovered.

Searches at the homes and offices of the three accused allegedly led to the recovery of photographs of girls and women believed to be connected to the case, along with other evidence, police stated. Police alleged that Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan assisted in the offences and helped conceal them.

The arrests come nearly a year after the case was first registered. Police said a POCSO court had recently refused to permit the closure of the case, after which the arrests were made. However, the police statement does not explain why the three accused were not arrested earlier.

It is also not immediately clear whether all alleged survivors have been identified, whether the allegations have been independently corroborated through forensic or other evidence, or whether medical examinations were conducted. NDTV has attempted to contact Gem Granites, Veeramani's family, and his legal team, but they have not been reachable so far. No statement has been issued by the company, the family, or legal representatives on the allegations.

The Chennai Police said the investigation is continuing. Veeramani, Shanthi, and Mahendra Simhan are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.