A Whistleblower, an NGO, and a USB Drive Expose Wrongdoing
In October 2025, a small pen drive handed over to a child-rights worker in Chennai became the starting point of a major investigation into alleged sexual offences against minor girls.
According to The Indian Express, on October 6, 2025, an unidentified man delivered an envelope containing a note and a pen drive to the office of a child-rights worker. The note named granite businessman R. Veeramani and alleged that a minor girl had been sexually assaulted at a house associated with him. The pen drive reportedly contained video footage connected to the allegation.
The material was taken to the police, and an FIR was registered on October 7, 2025, under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Police began investigating the video, the location where the alleged incident was said to have taken place and the identity of the girl shown in the footage.
The initial investigation, however, faced several difficulties. Police said they could not identify or locate the girl in the video and were unable to recover the original recording from an old DVR. Veeramani denied that he was the man shown in the footage. Police also questioned people connected with the property and conducted searches as part of the investigation.
In February 2026, the Anti-Vice Squad submitted a report seeking to drop further action in the case. The report cited the difficulties in identifying the girl and finding supporting evidence. However, the Special POCSO Court did not accept the closure report and ordered the police to conduct a further investigation.
The renewed investigation changed the direction of the case. Police later traced the girl seen in the original video, and her statement was recorded before a Judicial Magistrate. Investigators also said they had identified other alleged victims and expanded the investigation beyond the original video.
Veeramani and his associates Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan were arrested on August 29, 2026. Police have alleged that several minor girls may have been victims of sexual offences. These allegations are part of an ongoing criminal investigation and have not been finally adjudicated by a court.
The investigation has also turned toward the handling of the original police probe. Authorities are examining whether the earlier investigation was properly conducted and whether any evidence or information was overlooked. Police have also questioned people connected to the case and examined digital material as they try to establish how the videos were obtained and circulated.
The case has therefore moved from a single pen drive and an unidentified source to a much wider investigation involving alleged victims, digital evidence, arrests and scrutiny of the earlier police inquiry. The investigation remains ongoing, and further action will depend on the evidence collected and the findings of the courts.