Third video recovered in Gem Granites owner abuse case as victims rise to thirteen

Cyber forensic experts have recovered a third video allegedly showing Gem Granites owner R. Veeramani abusing a minor girl from a storage device seized at the home of his close associate Shanthi. Police sources stated that investigators are currently working to identify the victim in this latest footage, bringing the total number of victims in the ongoing investigation to 13.

Arrests and Charges

Authorities have arrested eight people so far, including Veeramani, Shanthi, and her husband Mahendra Simhan, and lodged them in the Puzhal Central Prison. The accused face a total of eight cases, which include seven cases under the POCSO Act and one case related to the abetment of a minor's suicide in 2004.

Financial Investigations

Investigators uncovered suspicious money movements linked to the Gem Group of Companies and froze bank accounts belonging to private individual Prakash Kanniah holding several crores of rupees. Police found that over 20 kg of gold bars were bought and delivered around the time Veeramani sold two land parcels along the East Coast Road for about 80 crore rupees, though searches failed to locate the gold. Authorities suspect this money or gold was used in a conspiracy to help the accused evade legal action, prompting alerts to the Directorate of Enforcement and the Income Tax Department.

Context

Police have written to the State government to recommend financial assistance for the victims under the POCSO Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as some affected minor girls belong to Scheduled Caste communities. Meanwhile, Prakash Kanniah is believed to be staying in the United Kingdom and remains an important figure for questioning regarding the financial trails.