In the ongoing POCSO probe against Gem Granites mining baron R. Veeramani, the Chennai Crime Branch police have arrested his former aide, identified as Ganesan. Ganesan had worked at Gem Granites for nearly 23 years, police said.
The Central Crime Branch arrested Ganeshan for allegedly possessing on his mobile phone a video purportedly showing Veeramani engaging in an obscene act with a minor girl and for allegedly failing to inform the police about it, as reported in The Hindu.
Ganeshan is currently employed with Balaji Global Enterprises. He was produced before a court and remanded in Puzhal Central Prison.
Police are now investigating who sent the alleged video to Ganeshan and the circumstances in which he came to possess it. His alleged failure to alert the police after receiving the video is also part of the investigation.
Further investigation is underway to determine who sent the video of the minor girl to Ganesan and to establish the circumstances under which he came into possession of the video and retained it without informing the police.
Meanwhile, police have reportedly traced financial transactions to several bank accounts belonging to individuals allegedly involved in attempts to suppress the case.
According to police sources, investigators have traced bank transactions to multiple accounts, including that of Prakash, the son of a railway union leader, who is suspected of having helped Veeramani evade police action.
Union leader is not Voldemort (He Who Must Not Be Named).
His name is (Dr) N Kanniah. The union is Southern Railway Mazdoor Union (SRMU). https://t.co/vmukxu8Few— Siddharth Prabhakar (@Sidprabhakar7) September 22, 2026
However, several media reports referring to Prakash have described him only as the son of a railway union leader, without naming Kanniah.
₹70 Crore Alleged Settlement
The latest development comes as investigators are reportedly probing allegations that Veeramani spent up to ₹70 crore to prevent his name from being included in FIRs relating to the sexual abuse of minor girls.
According to reports emerging from the investigation, the money was allegedly distributed to influential individuals, including senior police officials and political figures, as part of an illegal settlement intended to shield Veeramani from criminal action.
It has also been reported that Veeramani allegedly raised the money by selling a property on Chennai’s East Coast Road. The property, reportedly valued at around ₹130 crore, was allegedly sold for approximately ₹70 crore, with the proceeds subsequently used for the alleged settlement.
The investigation is now examining the network of individuals who allegedly facilitated the settlement and helped prevent Veeramani’s name from appearing in the FIRs.
Kanniah’s Son Under Investigation
On Tuesday morning, 22 September 2026, police issued summons to Prakash directing him to appear for questioning. However, officials said he was not available at his residence when the police arrived.
Police sources said Prakash’s family informed them that he is currently abroad. Police are now seeking to question him as part of the investigation into the alleged financial transactions and efforts to suppress the case.
With Prakash being the son of SRMU leader Dr. N. Kanniah, who is known to have close ties to the DMK, the case has brought Kanniah’s name into focus.
சதர்ன் ரயில்வே மஸ்தூர் யூனியன்( #SRMU ) என அழைக்கப்படும் அமைப்பின் தலைவராக பல வருடங்களாக இருந்து வரும் சென்னை வியாசர்பாடியை சேர்ந்த கண்ணையா என்பவரின் மகன் பிரகாஷுக்கு #Pocso வீரமணி வழக்கில் சம்மன் அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது..
இந்த கண்ணையா போட்டோ இல்லாத ரயில்வே ஸ்டேஷனே சென்னையில்… pic.twitter.com/8pz4DGV2EQ
— Saravanaprasad Balasubramanian (Modi ka Pariwar) (@BS_Prasad) September 22, 2026
Kanniah is a known figure in the Southern Railway Mazdoor Union, and his photographs are regularly seen across Tamil Nadu. Yet his name has been conspicuously absent from several reports referring to his son’s arrest.
This has raised questions over why media organisations have largely chosen to describe him merely as a “railway union leader” rather than identify him by name.
The issue is particularly notable given that Kanniah is not an obscure or unidentified individual. His public profile as an SRMU leader is well documented, and his photographs have been widely circulated in connection with union programmes and railway-related issues.
Veeramani, Associates Arrested
The Central Crime Branch had earlier arrested R. Veeramani, along with his alleged associates Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan, on 29 August 2026. They were subsequently remanded in Puzhal Central Prison after a case was registered in connection with allegations of sexual abuse of minor girls.
According to the police investigation, more than 10 minor girls were allegedly sexually assaulted. The alleged abuse reportedly took place at an office in Teynampet operated by Shanthi, who allegedly brought the girls to the location.
The Central Crime Branch investigation is continuing.
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