The SIT is headed by Additional Commissioner of Police PC Thenmozhi (top left) and includes Disha Mittal (top right), J Mutharasi (bottom left) and VV Geethanjali. Photo: ANI
'Gem' Veeramani POCSO case: All-woman SIT to take over investigation
The team will examine child rape allegations, evidence handling and claims of a suspected multi-crore trail involving officials, politicians and media
The Tamil Nadu Police on Friday (September 25) formed a four-member all-woman Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the POCSO case against 84-year-old ‘Gem’ R Veeramani.
Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites, has been accused of running a decades-long paedophilia and child exploitation ring targeting minor girls.
Meet the SIT team
The SIT was formed by Director General of Police (DGP) Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal and will be headed by Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) PC Thenmozhi of the Central Crime Branch (CCB), Chennai.
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The team includes Disha Mittal, Joint Commissioner of Police (JCP), Law and Order, Greater Chennai Police; J Mutharasi, Superintendent of Police (SP) and Media Relations Officer; and VV Geethanjali, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Crime Against Women and Children Wing.
Comprehensive probe
The SIT will investigate the case, which has expanded following the arrests of Veeramani and his associates. The team has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive probe into the sexual abuse allegations, the handling of evidence and allegations of institutional cover-up or bribery that may have delayed the initial investigation.
Veeramani, Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan were arrested on August 29 in connection with a child rape case. A former employee of Gem Granites, Ganesan, was subsequently arrested after police found a video linked to the case on his mobile phone on September 22. Investigators are examining how he obtained the video and why he did not report it to the police.
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The SIT will coordinate the investigation and examine the evidence and statements collected so far as part of the continuing probe.
Probe into 'multi-crore money trail'
The team will also investigate a suspected multi-crore money trail, allegedly involving around Rs 70 crore, which was purportedly used to influence media organisations, politicians and police officers to suppress the case when it first surfaced in 2025.
The SIT took charge after several high-ranking police officers were abruptly transferred or removed, including ADGP A Arun, Coimbatore Commissioner N Kannan and ACP M A Yasmin.
The officers were initially involved in handling the case, amid allegations that attempts were made to close the investigation prematurely.