SIT examines ADGP Arun and other IPS officers in Veeramani case

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed to investigate allegations of sexual abuse of young girls by Gem Granites owner R. Veeramani, has interrogated at least three senior IPS officers, including former Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun, police insiders revealed. Mr. Arun, who holds the rank of Additional District Magistrate and Police Commissioner (ADGP), and Inspectors-General of Police N. Kannan and A. Radhika were examined by the investigators, who recorded their statements.

Mr. Arun and Mr. Kannan have since been placed under compulsory wait by the Tamil Nadu government. Earlier, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee’s Scheduled Caste department president M.P. Ranjan Kumar alleged that he had lodged a complaint against Veeramani and his associate Shanthi on November 22, 2024, for exploiting minor girls and requested appropriate action.

However, Mr. Kumar claimed that no First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him. Police teams are now investigating the money trail in the case, probing reports of large sums of money possibly being exchanged to favor the accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. While freezing the bank account of N. Prakash, one of the suspects, held approximately ₹20 crore, police are exploring the possibility of cash transactions, lavish gifts, and real estate investments.

The source of funds in Mr. Prakash’s account remains unknown as he is on the run. Efforts are being made to trace him. Additionally, the Greater Chennai Police registered a seventh case under the POCSO Act following a complaint from a girl alleging sexual abuse by Veeramani when she was a minor.