SIT searches for remains of minor girl allegedly buried at ‘Gem Granites’ Veeramani’s house

Investigators start digging open spaces at his residential premises using excavators | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe allegations of child sexual abuse against Gem Granites owner R. Veeramani launched a search operation to look for the remains of a victim allegedly buried at his residential premises in Royapettah in Chennai, police sources said on Saturday (November 14, 2026).

Amidst tight security arrangements, investigators used escalators to dig open spaces within the compound wall of the house. The search was based on a statement given by one of the victims in the sensational case in the court, that a minor girl was buried in the house of Veeramani a few years ago, the sources said.

The octogenarian businessman is facing seven cases of child sexual abuse booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and one abetment to suicide case involving a minor in 2004. “One of the victims gave a statement in the special court for POCSO Act cases that a girl was buried in the house of Veeramani. We have started the process of verifying the information,” a police officer said.

A special team was trying to gather more details on the identity of the victim who is alleged to have been buried. The girl who gave the statement could not recall the name, address, and any other information that could lead to the identification of the victim or her family. 

“She only remembers that a girl was buried in Veeramani’s house. Going by complaints received from different sources, many minor girls, mostly belonging to poor families and Scheduled caste communities, were taken to the businessman’s house where he would offer gifts and sexually exploit them. We have so far seized three videos which show Veeramani abusing minors,” the police officer said.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050 and Speak2Us helpline at 9375493754.)

Published - November 14, 2026 03:59 pm IST