The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed its first charge sheet against Gem Granites chairman R Veeramani in a case involving the alleged sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl, while seven police officers, including former Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun (IPS), have been named in the original FIR for allegedly failing to properly investigate the complaint, as reported in The New Indian Express.
According to a senior police official who spoke to The New Indian Express (TNIE) on Thursday, the seven officers include former Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun, Assistant Commissioner M.A. Yasmin and personnel attached to the Anti-Vice Squad. They have been accused of failing to conduct a proper inquiry into the complaint, which allegedly resulted in a closure report being filed before the special court earlier this year.
The case was subsequently reopened following the intervention of a special court judge, eventually leading to Veeramani’s arrest along with two others on 29 August 2026.
720-page Charge Sheet Names Veeramani and Two Drivers
The SIT filed a 720-page charge sheet before the Special Court for POCSO cases on Wednesday. It reportedly contains statements from 40 witnesses and names Veeramani and his two drivers as accused in the alleged sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl belonging to a Scheduled Caste community.
According to the Greater Chennai Police, the case was registered on 27 September 2026, following a complaint by the victim’s mother. The police alleged that Veeramani sexually abused the minor and that his drivers were aware of the offence and transported the girl to his premises, where the alleged abuse took place.
The three accused have been charged under Sections 366 and 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code, provisions of the POCSO Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The charge sheet was filed within 46 days of the registration of the case before the special court exclusively designated to try POCSO cases on the Madras High Court campus.
SIT Probing Alleged Police Complicity
The SIT was constituted by the Director General of Police on 24 September 2026, to investigate the original case registered against Veeramani by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) in October 2025.
Following its formation, seven additional cases involving nine victims were registered based on complaints filed by the victims and their mothers.
The SIT has also named Veeramani as an accused in connection with the alleged abetment of the suicide of a minor in 2004, following an alleged sexual assault.
On Thursday, State Public Prosecutor (PP) R. John Sathyan informed Justice V. Lakshminarayanan that the first charge sheet had been filed. He also submitted that two more charge sheets would be filed within 10 days.
The submission came during the hearing of petitions filed by YouTuber Varaaki and advocate M.L. Ravi, president of Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi, seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter.
During the hearing, Varaaki’s counsel sought accountability from the police officers allegedly responsible for the closure report in the original sexual assault case and raised questions about the role of a particular officer.
Responding to the submissions, Sathyan told the court that the SIT was also investigating the role of police personnel and other aspects surrounding the earlier closure of the case. He reportedly assured the court that the investigation remained open to examining these allegations, stating, “We haven’t shut our doors.”
Justice Lakshminarayanan asked the petitioner’s counsel to advise his client to share any material or information concerning the alleged role of police officers in the closure report and other aspects of the case with the SIT.
Observing the progress made by the investigating team, the judge said that a perusal of the status report showed that the SIT had made substantial progress, which was satisfactory.
The judge further emphasised that protecting the interests of the children involved in the cases must receive the highest priority, adding that allegations of corruption were secondary to this objective.
Blue Corner Notice issued Against Absconding Accused
During the hearing, the State Public Prosecutor also informed the court that a Blue Corner Notice had been issued against one of the main accused, Prakash Kannaiah, who is reportedly absconding abroad. Steps had also been initiated to impound his passport.
Sathyan submitted that Prakash’s arrest and interrogation were crucial to establishing the money trail in the case and identifying the channels through which the funds had allegedly been routed.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to November 30.
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