- 1 hour ago
A special report and panel discussion examine key developments in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case involving Tamil Nadu granite industrialist R Veeramani, who faces allegations of sexually assaulting minors over several years.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening, you're watching Super 6 here on India Today. I'm Akshita Nanda Gopal.
00:04The last many days we've been getting you every day at 6pm here on India Today,
00:09the updates in the investigation into the Veeramani Poxo case.
00:14And now the smoking gun that confirms all of the excuses you heard previously of grainy footage,
00:20lack of evidence, all of that busted with a couple of images that we're putting out on our screens.
00:26We understand the sensitivity of this case. And I will keep saying this on record.
00:30We understand the sensitivity of this case, that there are minors involved.
00:34The survivors are watching closely what's happening.
00:36And so with the utmost sensitivity, we continue to report on the story, put out the facts
00:41and expose the lies, the cover-up attempts.
00:44We're going to continue doing that here on India Today.
00:46I'm Akshita Nanda Gopal. Here are the headlines before we get you more.
00:53Rahul Gandhi ups the ante, calls CEC Gyanesh Kumar Desh Drohi and demands his resignation,
00:59claims 2024 Lok Sabha polls and all elections after that were rigged.
01:08Sickening Tamil Nadu Epstein files video clincher man resembling Veeramani seen in these videos with minors.
01:16Videos submitted by Tamil Nadu Congress, Neta accessed.
01:24Jammui molestation re-run in Bihar, Samastipur.
01:28Minor girl molested and harassed.
01:29Girls pleading and screams fall on deaf ears.
01:33Four arrested in the case.
01:40Shocking bid to destroy evidence in Delhi.
01:43Gang rape case.
01:44Rapists Hemant and Mukesh washed clothes after the rape in a bid to destroy DNA evidence.
01:50Mukesh and Hemant deleted search history on their phones.
01:58Killer lapses by bus driver in Noida.
02:02Bus tragedy that led to nine lives being lost.
02:05FIR details say drivers smoked inside the bus, ignored smoke smell alert,
02:11laughed instead, refused to stop the bus.
02:14And so passengers were trapped inside while fire broke out.
02:32India today has been at the forefront of the coverage on the Veeramani box.
02:37Okay, so there's a reason for that.
02:39When the details first emerged of how this 85-year-old granite baron was sexually assaulting minors
02:48and managed to get away with it for years, for decades,
02:50this is a story that should have shaken the conscience of the nation.
02:55And that's why we decided to pick it up, to put it in focus and talk about the cover of
03:00the monsters
03:00who helped this man get away as well.
03:04The images on your screens is from a video clip that we've accessed.
03:09And I know there are several questions being asked right now.
03:12Where did this video come from?
03:13Well, a couple of years ago, a Congress leader had actually said that I have access to this footage,
03:20shared it with the Chennai police.
03:21Guess what?
03:22Nothing was done about it.
03:23There was no investigation, no action against Veeramani.
03:26And those clippings is what we have here with us.
03:30I've gone through all of it.
03:31I've seen those images.
03:33We've been extremely careful here on India Today to ensure that none of the survivors,
03:39the minors who were involved in this incident, their identity is revealed.
03:43Look carefully.
03:44We've ensured that only the pictures of the accused are out.
03:49And why have we done that?
03:50Because there is a need, viewers, to unmask this man.
03:54Not to hold back on the monstrosities that he committed, but to expose him further.
03:59For every one of us to be reminded that this man committed this kind of an act and got away
04:04with it.
04:04Because it's not like nobody knew about it.
04:06It's not like it was buried deep for years together.
04:08It kept resurfacing.
04:10And every time it kept coming up, it was further silenced once again.
04:14By who?
04:15That's really the million dollar question right now.
04:18And so the reason we put out these images is to also urge others to come forward, to speak out,
04:25to expose this monster for what he is, to ensure enough evidence builds up that he rots
04:31for whatever is left of the rest of his life behind bars.
04:34Because that's the least, at this point, that can be done against him.
04:38He's managed twice to get away.
04:40Twice, as far as on-record instances are concerned, 2024, 2025, complaints were filed.
04:46He got away both times.
04:48Why?
04:48Because he wielded a certain amount of influence.
04:51He's not going to get away with it this time.
04:53Because we are going to continue exposing all of his dirty secrets.
04:58We're going to be getting you all the details of who was in this racket, who was involved in the
05:02scandal,
05:02who was part of that syndicate, and the people who were also involved in the cover.
05:07Because they're equally responsible for the crime.
05:10They're equally responsible if they shielded this man and allowed him to continue with these kind of dirty crimes.
05:16And that's why we've put the focus on the story.
05:19That's why we're putting out these pictures.
05:21I will reiterate, we have shown the utmost sensitivity while reflecting these pictures,
05:27knowing that there are minors involved.
05:29And so all that you see in these pictures are the monster, the man who needs to be exposed.
05:42Sex assault accused, granite baron Veeramani caught on tape.
05:47India today has accessed images handed over to the police by Tamil Nadu Congress leader, Ranjan.
05:55The images show a man, allegedly Veeramani, at a location believed to be linked to the child rape case.
06:03In an explosive revelation, the Congress leader has claimed that he had lodged a complaint
06:09and even submitted screenshots related to Veeramani and co-accused Shanti in 2024.
06:16But no action was taken.
06:19The police reportedly claimed that the video was unclear and grainy.
06:25The case was registered in October last year, based on a complaint, but was subsequently closed.
06:34Veeramani would have reached some power centre to save himself.
06:37Only then the investigation should have been changed.
06:39We wanted to know who saved him.
06:40Because all the evidence has been available, all the witness has been examined.
06:45And the similar investigation, the first level has been already done in October itself.
06:50And who saved this?
06:51Who saved this person?
06:53Charged the DMK government.
06:55They slowed the process.
06:57They delayed the process.
06:59They almost wanted to stop the process.
07:03This government has taken it.
07:05They should intensify the activity and he should be punished.
07:09And who are all the officers, who are all the politicians, help them, should also be punished.
07:16The revelations come even as questions are raised over the involvement of Inspector Rajalakshmi
07:22of the anti-vice court in the probe.
07:25Though another inspector and an assistant commissioner are already handling the investigation.
07:30The probe is expanding.
07:32But the question still remains.
07:35Who was shielding Veeramani?
07:37With Pramod Madhav, Bureau Report, India Today.
07:51Let's get you the latest updates on the investigation as well.
07:54Remember the two other co-accused in this case, Shanti and Mahindra Sima.
07:58Who are they?
07:58They were a couple who were running the house of horrors, as we've called it.
08:02The house where these crimes were being committed in Chennai, Stenampit.
08:06This couple was running that house, supplying girls to Veeramani.
08:09So obviously they were a key part of this racket, had an active role, knew exactly what was happening.
08:14They were produced before the judge today in the special POCSO court.
08:19The police sought three-day custody.
08:21It has been granted, is the latest update that we can get for you.
08:25But the visuals are on your screens.
08:27The video also shows both Shanti and Mahindra Sima.
08:30We have, in fact, withheld the identity of Shanti because she claims she too is a victim.
08:37And like I said, we're being extremely responsible in our reportage of this crime,
08:41knowing full well the scale of what we're witnessing unfold before our eyes.
08:46Let me bring in Pramod Madhav, who's joining us live from Chennai with more details on this.
08:50Pramod, the two co-accused here, their testimony is also extremely crucial in really building up this case.
08:56I'll talk about the images we're showing in just a bit, but Pramod first that update from you on Shanti
09:01and Mahindra Sima.
09:03Certainly, Akshita.
09:04The important aspect here is that the central crime branch is the one that is actually investigating this particular case.
09:08And just like you mentioned, the first accused is Veeramani.
09:10Then we have Shanti, Mahindra Sima.
09:12And now we also have another arrest that is made.
09:14His name is Ganesan.
09:15Apparently, just like we reported yesterday, a kind of search has underwent into multiple locations related to Veeramani.
09:20Post which they also acquired the phone from Ganesan.
09:23And we've been told that there are more videos of such kind.
09:25This video itself is absolutely chilling.
09:28And there apparently seems to be more videos, especially involving minors.
09:32So now CCP wants to question both Mahindra Sima and Shanti to find out whether any more victims involved with
09:38survivors,
09:39especially minor survivors and such.
09:40So that's the reason they had sought three days custody.
09:42And after they were appearing in PocoSoco today, they have been granted custody right now.
09:49Pramod, also just a quick question also about the images we're showing.
09:54You know, you accessed those images for us.
09:56And I have reiterated several times that the reason we've shown it is to unmask Veeramani, to unmask the monster.
10:03And just before that, Pramod, before I come across to you once again,
10:06we're just going to shift focus briefly to also the allegations against the Election Commission.
10:11Rahul Gandhi has held a press conference demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
10:17Listen in to the BJP now.
10:47Rahul Gandhi has held a press conference in 10yan.
10:48And then the candidate has sent me to be able to address the towers,
10:49and that is the decision-in- многое for us.
10:49He knows if it's not the possibility.
10:51So now there's a press conference on the UK.
10:54And in the UK,
10:55there's a press conference on the Kaki Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
10:56There's a press conference on the Kaki Gyanesh Kumar.
10:59So once again,
11:02And then in the US,
11:02in 1927,
11:06and the press conference on the Kaki Gyanesh Pak 1970 section.
11:10So after this,
11:10by the end of the old
11:40Voter ID card not there, which was capturing a booth, which was looted by ballot box, which was looted by
11:53bullets, which was going on in Uttar Pradesh.
11:56Bihar में तो कोई चुनाव ऐसा नहीं जाता था, जब कुछ लोग मारे ना जाते हों और घायल ना होते
12:01हों, तब तक anti-incumbency Congress के लिए भी काम नहीं करती थी.
12:05जब से पारदर्शी election हो गए है, local police की बजाए central parametry forces आती है, जब से CCTV आ
12:15गए है, CCTV की live footage आती है, जब से स्वतंत्र media और स्वतंत्र जुडिश्री हो गई है, तब से
12:24उनको लाले पड़ गए हैं सत्ता में आने के.
12:29हाँ, यह सच है, कि राहूल जी और सुनिया जी के आने के बाद Congress को anti-incumbency का ज़्यादा
12:34सामना करना पड़ा है, क्योंकि सुनिया गांदी जी 1997 के दिसंबर में राजनीत में आई, उससे पहले Congress मध्यपरदेश में
12:42थी, तो अठान नवे में एक बार repeat हुई, फिर कभी किसी �
12:57जायता हूँ, anti-incumbency वास्विक्ता में Congress Party के अंदर इस गांधी परिवार के अंदर है, 100 साल से लगातार
13:07सक्ता में हैं, Congress Party की सक्ता में, और आज anti-incumbency इतनी स्टॉंग हो गई है कि वो अपनी
13:12seat बगएर अपने सयोगी दल की बैसाकी के नहीं जीत सकते, पिछले 25 साल से रा
13:27राहूल जी की छमता नहीं है कि बगएर सपा के सपोर्ट के अपने दम पे अपनी खांदानी seat निकाल लें,
13:34और राहूल गांधी जी वाइनार जीते और प्रेंका गांधी वाइनार जीती, Muslim League के सपोर्ट पर जीते हैं, जहां 60
13:41से 65% मुसलिम है, छमता नहीं है, हैसियत नहीं
13:45I can say that if you don't have a seat, you don't have a seat on your own seat.
13:49I can say that this is absolutely right.
13:52And I can say that this is the right thing.
13:56I can say that this is not a fundamental thing.
13:59Let's talk about technical aspect.
14:02First question.
14:04Is there a news report on this?
14:07Then I will answer it.
14:09First of all, this news report is a election commission.
14:13Is there a court?
14:15Yes or no?
14:17No.
14:18So, who is on the election commission?
14:21No.
14:22No.
14:23No.
14:24No.
14:24No.
14:24No.
14:25No.
14:26No.
14:35No.
14:44No.
14:47No.
14:52No.
14:54No.
14:56No.
14:57In the last statement.
14:59Do you think that Muslim ought not?
15:05Yes.
15:05No.
15:06No.
15:06No.
15:20।
15:37I would like to give this opinion on this.
15:41The first thing is the technical support of people who will act on the social media,
15:49Section 21.3,
15:51that he will be an advocate for his personal care,
15:55that he will have his personal care and personal care.
15:59sir करवा सकता है
16:03number 2
16:04जो उन्होंने अपनी report में court किया
16:07कि representation of people act 1960 में
16:09जो form 6 था
16:11उसमें कोई परिवर्तन किया गया
16:13इसमें इसपस्ट किया गया
16:14कोई परिवर्तन नहीं किया गया है
16:16उनका कहना है कि माता पिता का नाम नहीं जोडा गया
16:19एसी मुर्खता पूर्ण बाद
16:21सिर्फ कॉंग्रेस वाले ही कर सकते है
16:23क्योंकि भारत का पहला
16:25electoral roll 1952 में बना
16:27voting की age 21 years थी
16:30तो 1974 तक तो
16:31माता पिता का reference पूछने की आवशकता ही नहीं थी
16:34क्योंकि 1973 तक
16:36जो first time voter बन रहा होगा
16:38उसके तो माता पिता होई नहीं सकते थे
16:40क्योंकि सब 1952 से
16:42पहले के रहे होंगे
16:43उसके बाद जब यह परिसिती आई
16:48कि बहुत सी
16:49घुसपैटियों की समस्य आई
16:50तो 1987 में amendment हुआ
16:55तब यह किसने दरने लिया
16:572003 में amendment हुआ
16:58कि 26 जनवरी 1987 से
17:01पहले पैदा हुए
17:03जो भी भारत में के नागरिक हैं
17:05वो नागरिक माने जाएंगे
17:06उनका उसमें इंट्री होगी
17:0887 से लेके 2004 के बीच में
17:11जो भी लोग आए हैं
17:12उनको यह बताना होगा
17:14कि उनके माता या पिता में से
17:16कोई एक व्यक्ति भारती नागरिक होना चाहिए
17:20केवल उनसे सीधे
17:22नहीं एड होगा नाम
17:23फिर उसमें एक और क्लॉस जोड़ा गया
17:25कि माता और पिता में से
17:27एक व्यक्ति भारती नागरिक होना चाहिए
17:30मगर
17:31कोई भी एक व्यक्ति
17:33illegal immigrant नहीं होना चाहिए
17:35Yeah, I think yeah, no matter can be a natural
17:39you can't get it sometime
17:40is a child who I am and I think
17:42is she'd come to the
17:43and I think
17:43was I don't know
17:46and I ask
17:48if Congress Party
17:49I love
17:51and I may not
17:52and I don't know
17:56I don't know
17:58if I am
17:59you know
18:00I don't know
18:03it was
18:04I don't know
18:05I don't know
18:05Voting से є again नहीं जा रहा है इसमे एक काागस दे दी जिये गा दोम है देश स में
18:12धेश से पूचना चाहता हूं
18:12अगर 2025 य औरके का युवण आकर ये कहता है कि वोटर बनना चाहता है मगर माता पिता का कोई
18:21रिकॉर्ड नहीं है
18:22gave me
18:23How to make it
18:26So, which is saying
18:28It's saying that it's going to do something
18:30and it's going to do something
18:32and it's not
18:34It's not
18:36I've said
18:36I've said
18:37I've said
18:37Okay, I've said
18:43that's the
18:44Daily Star
18:45Daily Star
18:46in the article
18:46I have asked
18:47Modi has to go
18:47I have to go
18:48They have to be
18:49I have asked
18:53foreign
19:23and
19:24it's
19:42So that's the BJP now hitting back at Rahul Gandhi and over the fact that the Congress has once again
19:47raised questions of the Election Commission.
19:49The BJP is saying that of course the Congress is in fact making these allegations
19:54because they're electorally weak.
19:56So the political fight is escalating over the reports that suggest there's a dissent within the Election Commission.
20:02So as Rahul Gandhi has mounted that attack, you've got a response that's coming from the BJP.
20:06Let's cut across to more breaking news coming in.
20:16And in a big, big impact on our coverage of the Viramani Boxo case,
20:21two police officers, Arun and Kannan, IPS officers, have been removed from their post pending inquiry.
20:29Essentially, the formal term is compulsory weight.
20:33The reason that's been done is because in 2024 when that complaint was filed,
20:37when you had the Congress leader coming forth and saying that I have evidence against Viramani,
20:43it was in fact in the knowledge of IPS officer Kannan, who chose not to do anything about it.
20:49Arun at that point was the Commissioner of Police in Chennai.
20:52So both of them now, there's action against us.
20:56In fact, we are reporting right now.
21:04And joining us now on this broadcast, even as we're getting in details of exactly what happened in the investigation,
21:11joining us now is Lok Sabha, MP of the Congress, Jyothi Mani.
21:15Ma'am, thank you very much for your time, for joining us on this broadcast.
21:18You're a Congress MP, a senior politician, but I want your reaction as a woman, ma'am,
21:23of what we've seen, the immediate, in fact, information that we have of the manner in which Viramani operated
21:31and the manner in which there was clearly a cover-up to shield him.
21:37Yeah, it's very shocking and very deeply painful.
21:42It's happened in Tamil Nadu, we just couldn't believe this kind of things.
21:47See, this has been what investigation shows.
21:51So far, whatever the information we are getting outside from the public domain,
21:58this is not a new thing.
22:00It's happening almost for a few decades, it looks like.
22:04And a lot of young girls have been sexually assaulted.
22:10Maybe they raped.
22:13And a woman also, a personal secretary is also involved in these things.
22:18And there are a lot of complaints.
22:20Now the Congress Party, a seat department chairman, says he has given a complaint in 2024 itself.
22:27There were three months there was inquiry has been on.
22:29Then we was cooperating.
22:31Then nothing is happening.
22:32Now he says that first complaint itself is missing now.
22:36This is very strange.
22:39There is also a very strong allegation against the Hayat police official
22:43and allegedly some politicians of the day.
22:47If this is true, this is a heinous crime against not only the young girls,
22:52against the humanity itself.
22:54How can somebody, knowing police officials and the people in the power,
22:59knowingly can get rid of this kind of culprit?
23:03And also there is evidence emerging that he has sold out his land.
23:08It might be worth around 130 crores, something like that.
23:12Sold it to 70 crores and it paid the people who were responsible for the case.
23:18But this is true then.
23:20This is very, very outrageous.
23:24When we hear the news itself, it's very devastating.
23:29The people, whoever are involved in this, whether it's the police officials or politicians,
23:35has to be brought to book and they have to punish very severely
23:41so that this kind of incidents will not happen.
23:44And also I really appreciate the current TVK government.
23:47Chief Minister Mr. C. Joseph Vijay himself met the people, police officials
23:53and said this case has to go without any bias.
23:57I personally feel the Tamil Nadu government has to form an SIT
24:01to exclusively enquire about this case
24:05so that we can enquire it very quickly
24:08and brought people to book and they have to punish.
24:12This is very shameful and this is very devastating.
24:15This is very, very painful.
24:18I couldn't even imagine those young little faces.
24:23No, you know ma'am, the fact that this happened in Chennai,
24:28in a city that's considered to be very safe,
24:30a law in order, something that's taken so seriously
24:32and the police, they're hugely trusted.
24:35I have to ask this though, considering all that's happened
24:37to the fact that there were two alarms raised over what had happened,
24:42what do you think ma'am?
24:43Do you think that there was a considerable amount of influence
24:46that Viramuni wielded that led to him getting away for so long?
24:52I think so because, see, he is someone who is very influential
24:57and he is also known as somebody who is a big industrialist.
25:01So behind those masks, you see the real picture.
25:05It's very cruel.
25:06Without the people at higher level, this is not even possible.
25:12Definitely, the police officials, maybe media reporting,
25:20some politicians at some level should have been helping him.
25:24Otherwise, this is not possible.
25:35So it can go around and check whether it's a political influence
25:39or a police influence or both, who are all those people?
25:43However they are powerful, however they are in a higher position,
25:47they have to be booked and punished.
25:49This is a heinous crime against humanity.
25:51Ma'am, you know, you've said that you believe
25:55this should be an investigation handled
25:57by a special investigation team, an SIT.
26:00The question that's also being raised is whether
26:02a central agency like the CBI should be involved
26:05because you can't have a situation perhaps
26:07where the police is investigating the police.
26:09Amid these allegations of a cover-up,
26:11questions about how this case was ignored for so long,
26:14can the police really ensure a fair investigation
26:17against their own colleagues?
26:20I personally believe Tamil Nadu police,
26:23as you said earlier, they are very capable.
26:26Not all the police officials are corrupt.
26:28All the police officials are involved
26:30in this kind of heinous crimes.
26:32I think there are many police officials actually
26:34who can do justice to these girls
26:38and as well as the anti-Tamil Nadu.
26:42And then taking that forward,
26:44to questions being asked about political influence,
26:48and the fact that, you know, in this kind of a case,
26:51there's no evidence right now
26:52that suggests there was any political pressure.
26:54But just looking at how influential
26:57this granite baron was,
26:58do you think, ma'am, that political influence
27:00is something that was very much possible in this case
27:03that helped shield him for so long?
27:07Yeah, of course, yes, because he's a big industrialist.
27:09He has a big name.
27:10He has a big circle.
27:12Obviously, he has some connection with politicians.
27:17I don't think he's alone
27:22and he can do this kind of things
27:25and this kind of a heinous crime
27:26and simply escape from the case.
27:28And his name is not even filed in the affair.
27:31Now our party functionary is saying
27:33the first complaint itself is missing.
27:35This is very unacceptable.
27:37I think that some people, of course,
27:40in higher levels must have been involved in this.
27:42That's what I personally believe.
27:44The reason I'm also doing that
27:45is because you draw a comparison.
27:47You know, in October 2025,
27:48a complaint was filed in a matter of five months.
27:50The cops said,
27:51we have no evidence whatsoever.
27:54And now in a matter of two weeks,
27:56things have moved fast.
27:57Evidence has built up against Veera Muni.
27:59He's been arrested.
28:00Some of the survivors have been identified.
28:02The victims have been identified.
28:04So there's a clear contrast, ma'am,
28:06in how this case was handled last year versus now.
28:13See, of course,
28:14it may not be in general in this case.
28:17Actually, I don't know what level it has been dealt,
28:19but this is a big blow from the earlier government.
28:22There is no way,
28:27without some support,
28:29it may not be happened.
28:31The current government has invested
28:34designated
28:34when it also reached the higher level.
28:37Chief Minister himself,
28:38a media news
28:39citing that
28:40been told the officials
28:42to go ahead
28:43with the case
28:43without any compromise.
28:45So that is how
28:46the culprit has been arrested.
28:48It's definitely,
28:49it's a flaw from the earlier government.
28:50They have to accept this.
28:52There is no way
28:53there is no justification to do this.
28:55I don't think so.
28:56But what actually troubles me,
28:59see,
28:59this was not the only case.
29:02even before this Tamil Nadu,
29:04there was a poor large piece of woman
29:05who has been raped,
29:07sexually assaulted.
29:09Even the police officials,
29:10even then,
29:13called the press conference
29:14and named the victim.
29:15So why he is naming the victim?
29:17Because he is sending an indirect threat to the girl.
29:21If you are pursuing the case,
29:23this is how you will be humiliated.
29:25So how the society will see,
29:27and you see,
29:28so this is how
29:28the then police officials also,
29:30he was also hired police officials,
29:32but he got away with that.
29:33It's on camera,
29:35it's on media interaction,
29:37it's against the law,
29:38despite that,
29:39that cop has been
29:39completely got away with it.
29:41So this is the real problem.
29:44See,
29:44we trust police,
29:45we trust the judicial process,
29:47we trust the legal process.
29:49But how many women
29:50have to go through this
29:51again and again?
29:52Small girls,
29:53even three-year-old,
29:54five-year-old,
29:55ten-year-old,
29:55women,
29:56even old women,
29:57actually how long
29:58we are going to go through this.
30:00As a society,
30:01what are we going to do with this?
30:03Every time this kind of
30:05heinous crimes against women
30:07is happening,
30:07then we are coming out
30:09with a lot of outrage.
30:10Then there is a complete silence.
30:12Again, another case,
30:13another case,
30:13another case.
30:14But as a woman,
30:16I feel very deeply disturbed
30:19and concerned about this issue.
30:22No,
30:22but I also have to ask this,
30:24ma'am,
30:24with what's happened
30:25and the fact that
30:26this has happened in Chennai,
30:28where the police
30:29has a certain reputation
30:30of always cracking down
30:31all criminals,
30:33of ensuring law and order
30:34in the city.
30:35This kind of an incident
30:37is a black mark.
30:38And do you think
30:39it leads to a trust deficit
30:41in the Chennai police?
30:42What will it take
30:42to bridge that?
30:43Is it a question
30:44of how they investigate
30:45this case
30:45to actually show
30:46that they're still
30:47worth that trust?
30:51I don't see
30:52this as a verdict
30:53against the complete
30:54Chennai police
30:55or Tamil Nadu police.
30:56As I said,
30:56there are many,
30:57this is also by
30:58Tamil Nadu police.
30:59The same Tamil Nadu police
31:00has cracked the case
31:01and found the evidence
31:02and arrested
31:03the same person.
31:04So it's,
31:05I don't think
31:05it's a verdict
31:06against the entire
31:07Tamil Nadu police officials
31:09or the police department.
31:11It's about individuals,
31:12individual police officials.
31:14They have to be booked
31:15and they have to be punished.
31:16There is no second thought
31:17about it.
31:19Okay.
31:19Thank you very much,
31:20ma'am,
31:20for joining us here
31:21on India Today
31:22and sharing your view.
31:24I think beyond politics
31:25as women,
31:27your outrage is,
31:28you know,
31:29for obvious reasons
31:30boiling over
31:31over this kind
31:32of an incident
31:33and the cover-up
31:34and how brazenly
31:35this case was
31:36in fact hidden
31:37for so long.
31:38Bringing in
31:38on this broadcast now,
31:40Brinda Adige,
31:40women's rights activist.
31:41We also have
31:42Shalim Maria
31:42as well as
31:43Vaishnave Prasad.
31:45Shalim,
31:45I'd like to
31:46begin with you.
31:46You've been with us
31:47in the course
31:48of the last few days
31:49as we've covered
31:50this particular story,
31:51as we've gotten
31:52all of those updates.
31:53Today you've got
31:54images that have
31:55come to the fore,
31:56images that are
31:57extremely explicit
31:58in nature
31:59which we're not showing.
32:00We're showing
32:01Viramani to expose him
32:02for the monster
32:03that he is
32:03and to reiterate
32:04that these are the crimes
32:05that he's committed.
32:06We are being extremely careful
32:07not to show any of the
32:09victims or survivors
32:10because we know
32:10how sensitive this case is.
32:12But what this does
32:13is essentially
32:14it highlights
32:14that twice,
32:15Shalim,
32:16not once
32:16as he's suspected,
32:18twice on record
32:19there were complaints
32:19that were sent
32:20to the police
32:20that were ignored.
32:24Yeah, I don't think
32:26as I said that day
32:27it is not just ignored
32:28but another kind of scheme
32:30was conceived
32:32and that was being done.
32:33For example,
32:34the reason that day
32:35we were very hesitant
32:38to take Arun's name
32:39but today
32:40Arun has been
32:41Yasmin has been summoned
32:42Arun has kept on wait
32:44and Yan Kannan
32:44that's a new name
32:45which has popped up.
32:46Yan Kannan was
32:47the assistant commissioner.
32:49So his name
32:50has popped up
32:50and Ranjan has said
32:51he's given the
32:52you know
32:52and first of all
32:53they didn't meet him
32:54in the police station
32:55to take the complaint.
32:56They asked him
32:57to come to a hotel
32:58you know
32:59where they got
33:00the complaint
33:01not just a complaint
33:02or whatever he said
33:03and got the pen drive
33:04and things like that.
33:06And then Ranjan
33:07one important point
33:08about Ranjan
33:08in the interview
33:09where he says
33:10they were constantly
33:11asking him
33:11about the victim
33:13probing him
33:14about the victim.
33:15They wanted to know
33:15but they
33:17you know
33:18unofficially
33:18unofficially
33:19not officially
33:20and they totally
33:22messed up with this
33:23and when asked
33:24today Arun was asked
33:26one of the news channel
33:26asked Arun
33:27what happened
33:28and Arun just said
33:29I'm not the commissioner
33:30right now
33:30please go and ask
33:31the current commissioner
33:32which is very arrogant
33:33in nature.
33:34So what we see
33:36is like
33:36we were scared
33:37you know
33:37we were very shocked
33:38that this was
33:39happening from
33:40October 2025
33:41but this is more
33:43shocking to know
33:44but this is happening
33:44from November 2024
33:46which means for two years
33:48a lot of people
33:49knew it
33:50and I'm damn sure
33:51M.K. Stalin
33:52knew it
33:52but end of the day
33:53you know
33:54they colluded
33:55with the police
33:56they colluded
33:56with the officers
33:57to put it under the carpet
33:58brush it under the carpet
34:00and a lot of money
34:01was involved
34:02land was involved
34:04as I said
34:05there's a lot of money
34:06involved
34:06and that kind of money
34:08moving from one place
34:09to another
34:09more than 50 crores
34:11the police must have known
34:12the officials
34:13must have known
34:14but still
34:14they kept quiet
34:15and then
34:16there's another shocking
34:17thing also
34:18because there is
34:19a particular journalist
34:20also involved
34:21in this case
34:21a very well known
34:22Tamil magazine
34:23journalist
34:24is involved
34:25in this case
34:25why did all the
34:27because journalists
34:28will get this news
34:28immediately
34:29a lot of people
34:30will get the news
34:31we can sense it
34:32but for two years
34:33this news did not
34:34come up
34:34which means that
34:35a lot of journalists
34:36were silenced
34:37a lot of houses
34:38were silenced
34:39it's unfortunate
34:40it's unfortunate
34:41really
34:41that in some cases
34:43not all
34:43some
34:44you see journalists
34:45act almost as a mediator
34:47as a broker
34:48in some of these cases
34:49you know
34:49they'll get the person
34:50in touch with
34:51the right police officer
34:52insurance hushed up
34:53in the right way
34:54which is extremely
34:54unfortunate
34:55and that's what it is
34:56that that's what's
34:57perhaps also led to
34:58this case
34:58never coming to
34:59the media spotlight
35:00or for that matter
35:01for a national channel
35:02like India today
35:03the reason it never
35:04reached us right up
35:04until now
35:05is perhaps because of
35:06all of these games
35:07being played
35:08on the regional front
35:09now it's reached
35:10everyone
35:11it's reached the country
35:12and so there's no
35:12hiding it anymore
35:13Brinda Adige is with us
35:15on this broadcast
35:16Brinda Adige
35:16does it leave you
35:17with a sense of
35:19disappointment
35:19frustration
35:20that these kind of
35:22cases still come to
35:23the fore
35:23I can bear to anyone
35:24that this isn't the
35:25only one such case
35:26in the country
35:27we've seen so many
35:28of you know
35:29these influential men
35:31get away with these
35:32crimes of targeting
35:32minors
35:33simply by opening up
35:34and loosening their
35:35purse strings
35:37absolutely
35:38more than frustration
35:39I'm outraged
35:40I'm outraged
35:41that a state
35:42and all its
35:44departments
35:44actually systematically
35:46connive
35:47to ensure
35:48that this is
35:50pushed under the
35:50carpet
35:51like Shalin
35:52mentioned
35:52to ensure
35:53that
35:54this
35:55heinous
35:56brutal
35:57sexual assaults
35:59do not come
36:00anywhere out
36:01in public
36:02so this could not
36:03have happened
36:04without political
36:04patronage
36:05irrespective of
36:06what the police
36:07might say
36:08might not say
36:09who was involved
36:10political patronage
36:11is strongest
36:12and money is
36:14involved
36:15influence is
36:16involved
36:16so all of
36:17these things
36:18have ensured
36:19that victims
36:20not only silenced
36:22but also made
36:23invisible
36:23if a police
36:25can give a report
36:26that they are
36:27unable to trace
36:28the victim
36:29or victims
36:29what does that
36:30talk about the
36:31police
36:32in this age
36:33and time
36:33digital India
36:35CCTV cameras
36:36all kinds of
36:37whatsapp messages
36:38sms
36:39which means
36:40the surveillance
36:41that is available
36:42with the police
36:43cannot be available
36:44with anybody else
36:45in this age and time
36:47if the police
36:47says we are not
36:48able to trace
36:49just goes to show
36:51that the police
36:52have allowed
36:52themselves to be
36:53silenced
36:54or are party
36:55to this entire
36:56connivance
36:57to ensure that
36:58victims
36:59are not made
37:00visible
37:00or do not talk
37:01and like you
37:02mentioned
37:03this man
37:04also kept
37:04naming those
37:06victims
37:06and in a way
37:08that is intimidation
37:09and threat
37:10to say
37:10hey
37:11I know your
37:12names
37:12and so
37:13I am going
37:14to shame you
37:15and that is why
37:17you must not
37:17come out
37:18and talk
37:18so why has
37:19the state
37:20not followed
37:21Poxo
37:21why has the
37:23state kept
37:23silent
37:24if the police
37:25knew that
37:26all of this
37:27is there
37:27why haven't
37:28they employed
37:29every resource
37:30in their
37:30power
37:31to ensure
37:32that this
37:32victim is
37:33brought to
37:34fore and
37:35brought before
37:36the court
37:36yeah what's
37:37very clear
37:38here what's
37:38very clear
37:39is there's
37:39no question
37:40of whether
37:41there was
37:41a cover
37:41by the
37:41police
37:42that is
37:42100%
37:43certain in
37:44the information
37:45that's trickling
37:46in
37:46the other
37:47question is
37:48about political
37:48influence
37:49political pressure
37:49and there
37:50there's a
37:50question mark
37:51because there's
37:51no evidence
37:52just yet
37:53that's emerged
37:53it's something
37:54that's still
37:54being investigated
37:56but Vaishnavi
37:56Prasad is also
37:57with us on
37:58this broadcast
37:59Vaishnavi
37:59I asked this
37:59question earlier
38:00to the member
38:01of parliament
38:02Jyothi Mani
38:02as well
38:03about how
38:04you know
38:04this leads
38:05to a trust
38:05deficit
38:06we've always
38:07spoken about
38:07a corrupt
38:08political system
38:09now there will
38:09always be
38:10questions about
38:11whether cops
38:12can be trusted
38:12too
38:13that even if
38:14a survivor
38:14victim comes
38:15out and speaks
38:15what's the
38:16guarantee that
38:16if the accused
38:17is powerful
38:17they won't
38:18get away
38:20I think
38:20Akshita
38:21this is
38:21something
38:22that's not
38:23new
38:23you know
38:24as a survivor
38:25of child
38:26sexual abuse
38:26myself
38:27I can tell
38:28you that
38:28this is a
38:29this is a
38:30recurring theme
38:31this is something
38:32that's been going
38:33on and on
38:34and on
38:34you know
38:34you go to
38:34the police
38:35and they
38:35either shame
38:36you for
38:36you know
38:37what you're
38:37there's a lot
38:38of victim
38:38blaming in
38:39our society
38:39right
38:39as a
38:40as a woman
38:41we consistently
38:42face this
38:43as a problem
38:44and we have
38:45always hesitated
38:46to speak up
38:47because of
38:48this
38:48there are
38:49so many
38:49unreported
38:50cases of
38:50rape and
38:51sexual abuse
38:52that you
38:52know
38:53they just
38:53go unreported
38:54every year
38:55and from
38:56what we see
38:57the ones
38:57that do
38:58come into
38:58light
38:58they're
38:59threatened
38:59they back
39:00off
39:01and we've
39:01all gone
39:01through it
39:02I think
39:02as a woman
39:03we all
39:04resonate
39:05with this
39:05feeling
39:05that the
39:06moment you
39:06speak up
39:07you're
39:08victimized
39:08so now
39:09you imagine
39:09a child
39:10right
39:10a child
39:10is just
39:11being
39:11threatened
39:12the child
39:12is you
39:13know
39:13sort of
39:13scared
39:13and they're
39:15from
39:15economically
39:15depraved
39:16backgrounds
39:16so all
39:17the more
39:18they're going
39:18to be scared
39:19to speak up
39:20or even
39:20talk about
39:21this
39:21and trust
39:22in the police
39:23is something
39:23that I don't
39:24think any of us
39:25have had
39:26in a very long
39:27time living
39:28in this country
39:28actually
39:29it's not just
39:29here
39:30if you look
39:31if you look
39:31every government
39:32in the past
39:3320 years
39:34you can pull
39:34out 1-1 case
39:35every year
39:35that has
39:36shook us
39:37to our core
39:37and yet
39:38here we are
39:39in 2026
39:40talking about
39:41this
39:41you know
39:42talking about
39:42this like
39:43it's something
39:43new
39:44it's not
39:44it's something
39:45that we've
39:46sort of
39:46just normalized
39:47we've become
39:48so desensitized
39:49to it
39:49that you know
39:50Brinda's rage
39:51is so justified
39:52Rala's rage
39:53is so justified
39:53every single woman
39:55who is outraging
39:55about this
39:56we're taking
39:57out chunks
39:57from our own
39:58body
39:58and feeling
39:59the pain
40:00because
40:00the men
40:01won't
40:02the men
40:02don't
40:03the people
40:03in power
40:03don't care
40:04all they care
40:05about is the
40:06money
40:06and you know
40:07just abusing
40:07the power
40:08and this is
40:09like a tale
40:10as old as
40:10time right
40:11we are
40:11at the end
40:12of the day
40:12the victims
40:13are just
40:14that
40:15they're just
40:15victims
40:15they're just
40:16names
40:16and they get
40:17forgotten
40:19it's hard
40:20to say the
40:21least
40:21and you know
40:22what Viramani
40:23did
40:23the details
40:24that we have
40:24is that he
40:25would kind
40:25of exploit
40:26that weakness
40:27what would
40:28he do
40:28he'd actually
40:29prey on those
40:30who are from
40:31economically weaker
40:32sections of society
40:33because obviously
40:33they don't have
40:34the backing
40:34they don't have
40:35the willpower
40:36they don't have
40:37that strength
40:37to go ahead
40:38and approach
40:39the cops
40:40so that's how
40:41perhaps also
40:42for many years
40:42he managed to
40:43hide what he was
40:44doing
40:44one aspect
40:45with these pictures
40:46that come to light
40:47the first question
40:48that came to me
40:49is in that
40:50closure report
40:51how did the cops
40:52say that the
40:52footage was grainy
40:53because you see
40:54this footage
40:55it's as clear
40:56as daylight
40:57who is there
40:58who is the accused
40:59who is that man
40:59there is no
41:00question mark
41:01a simple
41:02AI enhancement
41:03that I do
41:03on my phone
41:04will make this
41:04clearer
41:05and with all
41:05of the forensic
41:06tools they have
41:07they claim
41:08they still
41:09couldn't identify
41:10who this man
41:10was
41:39what Mr.
41:41I'm very sorry
41:42I'm just kind of
41:43disturbed by this
41:44I'm so sorry
41:45so yeah
41:46because we've been
41:48talking about this
41:48for the last couple
41:49of days
41:49because this has
41:50brought up a lot
41:51of memory
41:51of POSCO survivors
41:53exploited in
41:54Tamil Nadu
41:54over the five
41:55years
41:55because I remember
41:56there was a
41:57NGO study
41:58where the
41:58government
41:59Tamil Nadu
41:59government
41:59gave up the
42:00names and
42:01addresses
42:02of POSCO
42:03survivors
42:0315 POSCO
42:04survivors
42:05to an NGO
42:05to VIT
42:07University
42:08where this guy
42:08this guy
42:09Veera Mani
42:10is the board
42:11member of VIT
42:12so to that
42:13you know
42:14institution
42:14Tamil Nadu
42:15gave up
42:16POSCO survivors
42:16information
42:17so I'm like
42:18wondering
42:18what else
42:19would have
42:19happened
42:19in the last
42:20five years
42:20and then
42:21what
42:21you know
42:22I have a
42:23problem
42:23with Jodhi
42:23Mani
42:24because
42:24end of the
42:25day
42:25you know
42:25she says
42:26oh she's
42:26sad
42:27she's sad
42:27she's sad
42:28I'm like
42:28dude
42:29you have to
42:30be shocked
42:30and you have
42:31to question
42:31DMK more
42:32because
42:32you were
42:33part of
42:33DMK
42:34when all
42:34these happened
42:35just because
42:35you are in
42:36TVK right
42:36now
42:37you cannot
42:37just pass
42:38the buck
42:38and say
42:39oh DMK
42:39has done
42:40it
42:40because
42:40I think
42:41the reason
42:41for that
42:42Shalin
42:42and I
42:43you know
42:43I don't
42:43mean to
42:44speak for
42:44her
42:44but I
42:45think
42:45even for
42:46us
42:46right now
42:47the reason
42:48we're putting
42:48a question
42:49mark
42:49of political
42:49pressure
42:50is we have
42:50to wait
42:50for those
42:51details
42:51from the
42:51police
42:52investigation
42:52as far
42:53as a
42:54cops
42:54cover up
42:54is concerned
42:55we've got
42:55enough evidence
42:56to back
42:56it
42:56yes
42:57Shalin
42:57but what
42:58happened
42:58is because
42:59the person
42:59who's given
42:59the complaint
43:00is a
43:00Congress
43:01state
43:01president
43:02for
43:02SESTV
43:03so if
43:04he's involved
43:05and he
43:06I'll quote
43:06him
43:07he has
43:07said
43:08I gave
43:08the complaint
43:09the police
43:09did not
43:10take action
43:10and I
43:11kept quiet
43:11after that
43:12because I
43:13was scared
43:13because it
43:14was a
43:14DMK
43:14Congress
43:15alliance
43:15government
43:17no okay
43:18yes I
43:18agree
43:18that's what
43:19he said
43:19so there
43:20is of course
43:20that big
43:21question
43:21that will
43:21be asked
43:22about whether
43:23there was
43:23political
43:24pressure
43:24political
43:24influence
43:25that further
43:26helped
43:26Veeramani
43:27that made
43:27him exploit
43:28in fact
43:29the law
43:29as he did
43:30for so many
43:30years
43:31but thank you
43:31very much
43:32Vaeshtovi Prasad
43:33Brinda Adike
43:33and Shalin
43:34for joining
43:34us on this
43:35broadcast
43:36so many
43:36questions
43:37that are
43:38still being
43:38asked
43:39on the
43:39investigation
43:39we've
43:40got you
43:40those
43:41pictures
43:41again
43:42to highlight
43:42what
43:43that that
43:43monster
43:44deserves
43:45every
43:45bit of
43:46jail time
43:47that he
43:47gets
43:48right now
43:48he managed
43:49to get
43:49away from
43:50the law
43:50for so
43:51long
43:51not anymore
43:52we are
43:52going to
43:53continue
43:53tracking
43:53the story
43:54very very
43:55closely
43:55here on
43:55India
43:55today
43:56and ensure
43:57justice
43:57for the
43:58survivors
43:58for the
43:58victims
43:59the ones
43:59brave enough
44:00to speak
44:01out
44:01right now
44:02even as
44:02this case
44:03gets murky
44:03I'm wrapping
44:04up this
44:04broadcast
44:05thanks for
44:05tuning in
44:06on