Full Breakdown
Gem Granites Founder Detained Under Goondas Act Amid Multiple POCSO Cases
By Drooid · · How we work
Detention Under the Goondas Act
Greater Chennai City Police Commissioner A. Amalraj ordered the detention of R. Veeramani, 84, founder of Gem Granites, and his associates M. Shanthi, 60, and Mahendra Simhan, 63, under the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities (Goondas) Act. The three were arrested by the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit on August 29, 2026 on charges of sexually assaulting minor girls and were remanded in judicial custody at Central Prison, Puzhal. All 14 accused, including those linked to separate murder, attempt-to-murder and narcotics cases, were lodged in prison on October 1, 2026.
Ongoing POCSO Investigations
The case against Veeramani stems from multiple complaints filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
- First POCSO case – registered in October 2025 after a video allegedly showing Veeramani assaulting a minor was received from a child-rights activist. The Special POCSO Court rejected a police closure report and ordered further investigation.
- Second POCSO case – relates to an alleged 2024 assault of another minor; a complaint was lodged by a woman claiming her daughter had been abused and later committed suicide in 2004.
- Third complaint – surfaced in 2025, alleging Veeramani sexually assaulted a girl inside his car; police are considering invoking the Goondas Act for this allegation.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted on September 24, 2026 under Additional Commissioner P.C. Thenmozhi, has recorded survivor statements, collected documentary evidence, and is completing procedural formalities. Police sources say the SIT is likely to file a charge sheet before the Special POCSO Court “next week.”
Police are probing suspicious financial transactions, including a reported transfer of INR24.63 crore from Veeramani’s account to Shanthi’s account and a subsequent INR2 crore transfer to an account linked to Mahendra Simhan.
Legal Proceedings and Bail Hearings
The Special Court for POCSO cases reserved orders on bail petitions filed by Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan on September 29, 2026. The police emphasized that the accused had access to victims’ homes, attempted to destroy evidence, and controlled significant bank accounts, raising concerns that bail could enable witness tampering or evidence loss. The court has not yet ruled on the petitions.
Political Controversy
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) filed a petition in the Madras High Court on September 27, 2026, seeking a direction to the all-women SIT to summon Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Ministers Aadhav Arjuna and C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar. The DMK alleges the officials may possess material that could clarify accusations that the party shielded Veeramani. The High Court adjourned the matter for four weeks on September 30, 2026, noting that child-sexual-abuse cases should not be politicised.
Official Statements & Responses
Police have urged the public to share information via a dedicated WhatsApp helpline (9345319676), assuring confidentiality and verification of all tips. A police officer indicated that the investigation also includes a “proceeds of crime” angle, with a bank balance exceeding INR20 crore identified in a suspect’s account and steps taken to freeze it.
What’s Next
The SIT is expected to file its charge sheet in the first POCSO case within the coming week, after which the Special POCSO Court will schedule hearings. The Madras High Court will revisit the DMK’s petition after the four-week adjournment. Bail decisions for Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan remain pending, and financial-transaction probes are ongoing.