Gem Granites founder and two associates detained under Goondas Act in POCSO cases

Greater Chennai City Police Commissioner A. Amalraj has ordered the detention of Gem Granites founder R. Veeramani, 84, and two associates under the Goondas Act, the Tamil Nadu law used against people the police say are habitual offenders who threaten public order.

This report concerns allegations of sexual offences against children. Mr. Veeramani and the others named have been booked and detained; they have not been convicted, and the allegations have not been tested in court.

According to a press release from the Commissioner's office reported by The Hindu on Thursday, the detention covers Mr. Veeramani, Shanthi, 60, and her husband Mahendra Simhan, 63. Police said they had allegedly engaged in repeated criminal activity and disturbed public order.

Arrests and further cases

Mr. Veeramani was arrested on 29 August by the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit on charges of sexually assaulting minor girls. Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan were arrested for allegedly abetting him. All three were remanded in judicial custody and lodged at Central Prison, Puzhal.

Police later registered two further cases against Mr. Veeramani alleging that he drove minor girls to end their lives. Investigators say four cases in all have so far been registered on complaints from minor girls and their relatives, and that further complaints continue to arrive.

The Commissioner's office said the Goondas Act orders form part of a wider effort to curb habitual offenders. Separately, Mr. Amalraj detained 11 other people linked to the murder of a man named Kannan in Vannanthurai, Shastri Nagar, on 5 September — among them Sathish Kumar, 26, and Manikandan, Hariharan, Paranitharan and Rakesh, all aged about 20. In total, 14 accused across these matters were in judicial custody before the detention orders were issued.

Money trail and tip line

Police say they are examining suspicious financial transactions linked to the businessman. A WhatsApp number, 9345319676, has been opened for information about affected minors; five tips received so far are being verified, The Hindu reported.

The detentions come days after the Madras High Court declined, for now, to transfer the POCSO investigation to the CBI, and after an all-woman Special Investigation Team took charge of the probe. Charge sheets are expected in the designated court in the coming weeks, according to earlier police briefings.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available on Tamil Nadu's health helpline 104 and Sneha's suicide prevention helpline 044-2464 0050.