Madras High Court Refuses To Transfer Veeramani Case To CBI
· India · Hindustan Times, The Hindu
The Madras High Court has declined to transfer the Pocso investigation involving granite baron R Veeramani to the CBI, ruling that the Special Investigation Team formed by the Tamil Nadu government must be given time to gather evidence. Justice V Lakshminarayanan noted that the SIT was constituted four days ago and has already commenced its probe into allegations that Veeramani sexually assaulted minor girls at a rented house in Chennai's Teynampet. Veeramani and two caretakers, Mahendra Simhan and his wife Shanti, were arrested by the Anti-Vice Squad on August 28 and are lodged in Chennai's Puzhal prison following the recovery of a USB drive with video clips. Local journalist Vaaraki had petitioned the court to shift the probe to the CBI due to fears that high-ranking officials might influence the state investigation. The High Court cautioned against politicising the sensitive case, emphasising that the primary focus remains the welfare of the children involved.
Why it matters
The ruling keeps the high-profile investigation under state police control, setting a test for the newly formed SIT to independently prosecute grave charges involving influential figures.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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