States » SouthPosted at: Oct 14 2026 8:58PM


Key suspect, son of a powerful SRMU leader with political links, files AB plea in HC in Veeramani POCSO case

Chennai, Oct 14 (UNI) Prakash, son of a powerful SRMU leader with political links, on Wednesday filed an anticipatory bail plea in connection with the granite baron R.Veeramani POCSO cases, on charges of acting as a facilitator in handling multi-ctore financial transactions to shield the tainted bizman.
The petition filed by Prakash, son of SRMU Trade union leader N.Kannaih, who has been linked to the case, apprehending arrest in the case, was adjourned to tomorrow by POCSO Court Special Judge S.Padma to enable the police to file its response.
Senior counsel Abudukumar Rajarathinam, appearing for Prakash, argued that his client had no involvement in the alleged offences and that the accusations made by the police were baseless. He also submitted that the financial transactions between Prakash and Veeramani were purely business-related and had no connection with the alleged offences.
He sought advance bail citing that Prakash, against whom summons were issued and it later came to known that he was staying in abroad, has already appeared before the police for questioning and had cooperated with the investigation.
The prosecution, represented by advocate Anita, sought time to clarify whether Prakash had previously appeared for police questioning and to file its response to the AB petition.
After hearing the submissions, Judge Padma adjourned the hearing to tomorrow and directed the police to file their response.
Police have already filed six cases against the bizman, including for abetting the suicide of a minor in 2004 after she was sexually assaulted by him in which he was formally arrested today.
Veeramani was arrested after the POCSO court rejected the closure report and ordered the police to probe the matter based on the FIR registered in October 2025. Cases were registered against Veeramani and others under Secs 7,8,15(1), and 21(1) of the POCSO Act, Sections 354(A), 354(C), 201, and 120(B) of IPC and Sections 66(E), and 67(B) of the IT Act.
As the probe by the CCB police unravelled several startling revelations including huge money trial running to crores of rupees and the involvement of top police officials and also some affluent and influential persons, the Tamil Nadu Government constituted an all-women Special Investigation Team (SIT) which has now taken up the investigation.
Police said so far seven people were arrested in the case. Based on a complaint from a child right activist and a pen drive given by him containing video footages of the sexual assault on a minor by the bizman, Veeramani and two of his acquaintances Shanthi and her husband Mahendra Simkan were arrested on August 29 and all the three were detained under the Goondas act following receipt of more complaints against him and recording of statements from the victims.
Subsequently, the bizman's former employee Ganesan was arrested on September 22 for not disclosing to the investigators, the contents of the videos containing the inappropriate acts of Veeramani, which he had in his possession. During the investigation into the five cases, police identified three of Veeramani’s drivers — Lazar, Parthiban and Babu — for having allegedly aided his sexual offences by bringing minor girls to him and the trio were arrested on October 5.
The questioning and statements given by the drivers led to the formal arrest of Veeramani and Shanthi in a second case at the Puzhal Central prison on October eight, in which they were remanded in judicial custody till October 21 and he was also formally arrested in the suicide abetment case today.
Widening the probe, the SIT registered a sixth case against Veeramani two days back and investigations on the alleged sexual exploitation of 10 girls are continuing, police said, adding, he would be formally arrested in the remaining four cases after following due legal procedures.
As the probe by the CCB police unravelled several startling revelations including huge money trial running to crores of rupees and the involvement of top police officials and also some affluent and influential persons, the Tamil Nadu Government constituted an all-women Special Investigation Team (SIT) which has now taken up the investigation.
The Madras High Court also refused to order a CBI probe on a plea and said the SIT should be given some breathing time to investigate the case.
Apart from unravelling huge sums of money trail, running to more than Rs 50 crores allegedly to shield the industrialist, the investigation has also raised questions about the role of top police officers who handled the earlier complaint. A son of a prominent SRMU identified as Prakash, was said to have acted as the conduit in settling the financial deals. CCB police have issued summons against him, but he was said to be staying abroad.
Cracking the whip, the government has shunted out three key police officers. While former Chennai Police Commissioner A.Arun, now ADGP TN Police Academy Director and former Chennai City Joint Commissioner and present Coimbatore City Police Commissioner N.Kannan, who were at the helm of affairs when the first complaint was registered, were put on compulsory wait, Chennai City Assistant Commissioner Ms.M.A.Yasmin, who was the first IO, was kept under Vacancy Reserve.
In related development, the SIT also questioned Arun for close to three hours, posing nearly 80 questions in connection with the case and has recorded it.
UNI GV 2050
Tags: #Key suspect# son of a powerful SRMU leader with political links# files AB plea in HC in Veeramani POCSO case
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