SIT to file chargesheet in first POCSO case against Veeramani within three weeks: Madras HC told

Chennai, Oct 26 : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing multiple Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) cases against granite businessman R. Veeramani on Monday informed the Madras High Court that the chargesheet in the first FIR would be filed within three weeks.

The submission was made when writ petitions filed by journalist R. Varaahi and advocate M.L. Ravi of Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi, seeking a transfer of the investigation into the sexual assault cases against Veeramani to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), came up for hearing before Justice V. L. Lakshminarayanan.

State Public Prosecutor R. John Sathyan informed the court that the SIT investigation was continuing and that the chargesheet in the first case registered against Veeramani, owner of Gem Granites, and others was almost ready. He assured the court that it would be filed within three weeks.

The prosecutor also submitted that the SIT had been issuing press releases on the investigation and would file a status report detailing the progress made in the case.

Meanwhile, Varaahi filed an additional affidavit alleging that Veeramani had carried out financial transactions worth approximately Rs 147 crore shortly before the earlier action-drop report was submitted in his favour.

He further alleged that former Chennai City Police Commissioner Arun had used some of the alleged illegal gratification to purchase gold worth around Rs 24 crore.

The petitioner contended that the circumstances surrounding the transfer of funds, the identities of those who facilitated the transactions, the source of money used to purchase gold, the mode of payment and the ultimate ownership of the acquired assets required a thorough and independent investigation.

The court perused the SIT's status report and observed that the police had already taken note of these allegations and were investigating them. After considering the submissions, the judge adjourned the matter to November 12.

In his original petition, Varaahi had alleged the involvement of senior officials in the case and claimed that attempts were made to protect the accused and prevent legal action. He also expressed apprehensions that the SIT might not conduct an independent and effective investigation, and sought a CBI probe.

However, the court had earlier declined to order a CBI investigation, observing that the SIT constituted by the Tamil Nadu Government should be given sufficient time to collect evidence. The court had remarked that investigations take time, particularly in a case of this nature, and that the police could not collect all evidence instantly with a magic wand or crystal ball.

Veeramani was arrested after the POCSO court rejected the closure report and directed the police to investigate the matter based on an FIR registered in October 2025.

Cases were registered against Veeramani and others under Sections 7, 8, 15(1) and 21(1) of the POCSO Act, Sections 354(A), 354(C), 201 and 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code, and Sections 66(E) and 67(B) of the Information Technology Act.

So far, eight POCSO cases have been registered against Veeramani. He was also booked for allegedly abetting the suicide of a minor girl who had reportedly been sexually assaulted by him, taking the total number of cases to nine.

Eight people have been arrested in connection with the cases.

The investigation by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police reportedly uncovered several financial transactions involving crores of rupees. More than 20 kg of gold was allegedly transferred between Veeramani and a suspected intermediary in November 2024, when the first complaint was lodged, and again in early 2026, when the closure report was filed.

Following revelations about the alleged involvement of senior police officials and influential individuals, the Tamil Nadu Government constituted an all-women SIT to conduct a detailed investigation.

The probe has reportedly uncovered financial transactions exceeding Rs 50 crore, allegedly aimed at shielding the businessman from legal action. It has also raised questions about the role of senior police officers who handled the earlier complaint.

Businessman Prakash Kannaiah, son of Southern Railway Mazdoor Union (SRMU) leader N. Kannaiah, is alleged to have acted as a conduit in facilitating the financial transactions. Though police issued summons to him, the POCSO court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea on October 16, bringing him closer to possible arrest.

As he is reportedly staying in the United Kingdom, police are considering seeking Interpol assistance through a Blue Corner Notice to facilitate his return to India.

In another development, three days ago, Archana Veeramani, daughter of the businessman, was deboarded from a Singapore-bound flight at Chennai airport and detained for questioning by the SIT. She was questioned in connection with alleged large-scale financial transactions worth several crores of rupees suspected to have been made to protect her father from the cases.