The central crime branch (CCB) of Tamil Nadu police has registered a new case against industrialist R Veeramani under the ‘abetment to suicide’ charge related to the death of a minor in 2004, police said on Wednesday.
Veeramani was arrested under the POCSO Act in August and three of his associates — Ganeshan, a former employee, Shanthi, and her husband Mahendra Simhan — who allegedly played key roles in the abuse of minors, have also been arrested. The SIT was formed based on the orders of director general of police (DGP) Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal and is headed by the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Amalraj. Police alleged that Veeramani kept minor children at Shanthi’s residence to assault them and that Shanthi attempted to destroy evidence.
The decades-old case against Veeramani (84), the founder of Gem Granites who is in police custody under Pocso, resurfaced after investigators accessed a text message sent by Shanthi, a co-accused, asking him if he remembered his involvement in the victim’s death. Veeramani, Shanthi and Simhan are currently in police custody until October 8. They highlighted key financial transactions linked to the crime, revealing that ₹ 24.63 crore was transferred from Veeramani’s account to Shanthi, with ₹ 2 crore moved to Simhan.
The SMS prompted a fresh complaint from the girl’s mother alleging that her daughter died by suicide following sexual abuse by Veeramani, police said. Deputy commissioner of police B Geetha, who is currently serving Kilpauk police, will replace Geethanjali in the SIT, said officers aware of the matter, adding that a formal communication to that effect is expected from the police department soon. Meanwhile, a special Pocso court in Chennai on Tuesday reserved its orders on the bail petitions of Shanthi and her husband Mahendra Simhan.
Meanwhile, V V Geethanjali, one of the four IPS officers on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the case, has recused herself from the team, citing personal reasons. Besides Geethanjali, who is the deputy commissioner of police, crime against women and children, PC Thenmozhi, additional commissioner of police, CCB, Chennai, Disha Mittal, joint commissioner of police, law and order (west), and J Mutharasi (superintendent of police) were part of the SIT.
Geethanjali has sought the Commissioner’s permission to recuse herself from the team as she was part of an earlier investigation into the Veeramani case under the supervision of the then- Chennai city police commissioner A Arun.
