Breakthrough in POCSO Act case against granite baron Veeramani after police identify survivor
Investigators say some more minors were exploited by businessman Veeramani
The Chennai Police have made a significant breakthrough in the POCSO Act case against prominent granite businessman, R Veeramani. The case, which centers around the sexual abuse of a minor, has finally identified the survivor and recorded her statement. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was invoked when the police received a storage device containing a video allegedly showing Veeramani sexually abusing a minor.
Veeramani, the chairman of Gem Group of companies and Gem Granites, along with his associates Shanti and her husband Mahendra Simhan, were subsequently arrested. The police claim that the girl, who was a minor when she was exploited, has confirmed her identity and the accused's in her statement. The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 has been included in the POCSO case due to the victim's belonging to a Scheduled Caste community.
The police also stated that more minor girls were exploited by the accused over an extended period, and they are currently working to identify them and record their statements. Shanti and Mahendra Simhan were also charged for tampering with evidence. The case was initially dropped by the police in October last year due to the inability to identify the victim and lack of corroborating evidence.
However, after the court refused to accept a closure report and ordered further investigation, the trio was recently re-arrested by the police.
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