R Veeramani
CHENNAI: Granite baron R Veeramani, 84, and his two associates — Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan — arrested on Aug 29 in connection with a child rape case, were all detained under the Goondas Act by the Chennai police on Thursday. The first case was registered on the basis of an Oct 6, 2025, complaint lodged by a child rights volunteer to the city’s Anti-Vice Squad. A long-time employee of Veeramani’s Gem Granites, Ganesan, 42, was arrested later. The issue triggered political and social outcry as it came to light that an attempt to close the first child rape was made in Feb 2026 when the city police filed a ‘further action dropped’ report in the special court for Pocso Act cases. More complaints are being received against the accused, said police, who have provided WhatsApp number — 9345319676 — to receive information.
Though the SIT has received a large number of messages and photos, it is tracking five such complaints which are being verified, a police officer said. The preventive detention order, issued by city commissioner of police A Amalraj, comes after two more cases of child rape were registered against Veeramani. She submitted a complaint and a pen drive containing video footage showing Veeramani abusing a child at the rented residence of the couple, Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan. The court, however, disallowed the closure report and ordered further investigation, leading to the arrest of Veeramani and others.
On Thursday, Chennai police said four cases, including one involving the suicide of a Class XI student, have so far been registered based on complaints from survivors and their relatives.