CHENNAI: An 84-year-old granite businessman and a couple were arrested by the Anti-Vice Squad of the Chennai city police’s Central Crime Branch on Saturday on charges of sexually abusing a minor girl at a house in Teynampet. The case was registered in October 2025 after a child welfare volunteer handed over a pen drive containing a video that purportedly showed an elderly man sexually abusing a girl.Police identified the arrested businessman as Veeramani of Adyar. He is the proprietor of Gems Granites.Investigators found that Veeramani had rented a house in Teynampet and entrusted its management to his business associates, Mahendra Simha, 64, and his wife, Shanthi, 60.According to police, a minor girl worked at the house. Veeramani frequently visited the house and allegedly sexually abused the girl.Police seized the video recording and other material from the residences and offices of the accused. Photographs and other evidence relating to the minor and other women were also recovered.The case was registered by the city police on Oct 7, 2025, based on a complaint filed by a social activist. The complainant had reported that an unidentified man had handed him the pen drive at his office.Police said the investigation later established the identity of the man seen in the recording. The case was subsequently revived and transferred to the Anti-Vice Squad, which arrested Veeramani, Mahendra Simha and Shanthi. The three were remanded in judicial custody.Chennai city police commissioner A Amalraj instructed his subordinates to investigate whether the minor had been subjected to sexual abuse by more than one person.The senior police officers also ordered an internal inquiry to determine why the case had remained pending with the investigating officers and why action had not been taken on the complaint since October 2025.The Chennai city police commissioner had recently ordered the formation of an internal anti-corruption unit in the city police to monitor personnel and prevent corrupt practices in the discharge of their duties. Police suspect that the unit could also help identify personnel involved in corrupt practices that could tarnish the image of the police department.
