Chennai: At least seven more minor girls have testified against the arrested granite baron R Veeramani, 84, stating that he had exploited and sexually abused them over the years.
Veeramani, chairperson of Gem Group and head of Gem Granites, was arrested on Aug 29 after a USB drive containing a video clip that purportedly showed a juvenile girl being sexually assaulted by him in Oct 2025. Along with Veeramani, police also arrested Shanti, 60, and her husband Mahendra Simhan, 63, in connection with the case.
A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said police teams had identified the victims and recorded their statements before the special court trying Pocso cases. Meanwhile, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) member Sheela Jayanthi said the committee was yet to receive a report from the city police. Sheela Jayanthi said, “We are closely watching the developments in the case and discussing them with the District Child Protection officers.
The interrogation was completed by Friday evening. As the girl was sexually abused when she was a minor and is now a major, there is no need for intervention by CWC officials.” The Pocso special court judge, Padma Shanmugasundaram, sent Veeramani to a three-day police custody on Thursday.
Police said they identified the survivor and established that she was a minor when the alleged offence took place in 2019. The case came to public knowledge after the special court refused to close it and instead ordered further investigation. A special team led by assistant commissioner Rajalakshmi was formed following the court’s direction. Her statement was subsequently recorded before a court trying Pocso cases.