Two associates of granite businessman R. Veeramani have approached the Chennai POCSO Special Court seeking bail in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The two associates, Shanthi and her husband Mahendra Simhan, were arrested along with Veeramani on August 29 in connection with the case. They have now filed separate bail petitions before the court.
The bail pleas have brought renewed attention to the circumstances surrounding the registration of the case. According to reports, the case was registered in October 2025 following a complaint concerning an alleged incident involving a minor. The accused have raised issues concerning the time taken to register the case and the investigation that followed.
The case initially faced further complications when police sought to close the investigation, citing issues including a lack of conclusive evidence and difficulties in identifying the girl shown in a video that became part of the investigation. However, the Special POCSO Court did not accept the closure report and directed that the investigation continue.
Following further investigation, police arrested Veeramani and the two associates. Investigators have since said that the girl connected to the video was traced and that her statement was recorded before a magistrate.
The Chennai court has now asked the police and authorities to file their response to the bail petitions. Reports say the court has deferred consideration of the pleas, with the matter scheduled for further hearing.
The case has also become part of a wider political debate in Tamil Nadu, with different political groups raising questions about how the investigation was handled and the delay in the proceedings. Those claims remain part of the ongoing public and political debate.
The allegations against Veeramani and the other accused are yet to be established at trial. The investigation and court proceedings are continuing, and the bail petitions will be considered separately by the court.