Former Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun and six other officers, including former Anti-Vice Squad ACP M A Yasmin, have been named as accused in the first FIR filed by the Special Investigation Team regarding the POCSO case against Gem Granites founder R Veeramani, according to police sources. Eight associates of Veeramani have also been arrested in connection with the alleged network.
The Special Investigation Team has filed its initial charge sheet against Veeramani and two of his drivers, Parthiban and Babu, concerning the alleged sexual abuse of a 14-year-old Dalit girl. The police personnel, including the former Anti-Vice Squad assistant commissioner, were implicated for allegedly mishandling the initial complaint, which resulted in a closure report being submitted to a special court earlier in the year.
Pursuant to reports from the Press Trust of India citing police sources, the SIT delivered its extensive 720-page final report featuring 40 witnesses to the Special Court dedicated to POCSO cases at the High Court campus. Completed within 46 days of the case registration on September 27, the charge sheet accuses Veeramani of sexually abusing the minor, while his drivers face allegations of transporting the survivor to his residence despite awareness of the unlawful conduct.
The primary trio faces prosecution under specific sections of the POCSO Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act. The Director General of Police established the SIT on September 24 under the oversight of the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner to re-examine the initial handling of the matter and associated incidents.
Following the formation of the investigative unit, seven new cases involving nine minor survivors were formally opened following grievances lodged by the victims or their mothers. The SIT maintains an active parallel inquiry into the seven law enforcement officers accused of negligence during the preliminary examination of the original complaint, running alongside the active prosecution of Veeramani and his drivers.