Chennai, Oct 26: Five suspects have been barred from travelling abroad as Greater Chennai Police intensify their investigation into the cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against Gem Granites owner R. Veeramani and his associates, IANS reported on Monday. Police have issued Look Out Circulars (LOCs) to prevent their departure from India. No victim is being identified, in line with the law on cases involving minors.

Source: IANS via BizzBuzz

Investigators suspect the five hold documents or information that could help establish details of the alleged offences, and police sources said their possible links emerged during the ongoing inquiry into the octogenarian businessman and others. The circulars will enable immigration authorities to intercept the suspects at airports, seaports and designated land crossings, police said.

Source: IANS via BizzBuzz

Chennai Online, reporting the same police action independently, said a police officer stated the LOCs were issued to stop the five from fleeing the country because, based on the investigation, they are suspected to be involved in the POCSO cases. The Bureau of Immigration will enforce the order at official entry and exit ports, the report said.

Source: Chennai Online

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) handling the probe has so far registered eight cases under the POCSO Act against Veeramani and others, police said. A separate case concerns the alleged abetment of a minor girl's suicide in 2004 — an allegation that has not been proved. Police said eight accused had been arrested in connection with the investigation and were lodged in Puzhal Central Prison.

Source: IANS via BizzBuzz

8POCSO cases registered so far by the SIT against Veeramani and others, according to police
5Suspects against whom Look Out Circulars have now been issued
8Accused arrested so far and lodged in Puzhal Central Prison, police said

Police have also registered another POCSO case against Veeramani following a complaint alleging sexual abuse; his associate Shanti and another person, Lazar, were also named in that case, IANS reported. The SIT plans to take Veeramani, Shanti and her husband Mahendra Simhan into custody for interrogation, Chennai Online reported.

Source: Chennai Online

In a related development already reported, Veeramani's daughter Archana Veeramani was allowed to return home after being hospitalised for an ailment. SIT personnel had detained her at Chennai International Airport on Friday when she was preparing to travel abroad, and investigators questioned her about her father's alleged criminal activities and financial transactions suspected to have been undertaken to evade police action, according to the SIT statement reported by IANS. All of the allegations in this investigation remain allegations at this stage and have not been proved in court.

Source: IANS via BizzBuzz