Crime

The red-brick Madras High Court building in Chennai

No bail for Veeramani's alleged aides: Chennai POCSO court cites pending forensics, flight risk

Chennai's Special POCSO Court has rejected the bail pleas of Shanti, 60, and her husband Mahendra Simhan, 63, arrested alongside Gem Granites proprietor R. Veeramani in the alleged child-abuse case. The court cited pending forensic examination of seized devices, flight risk and the risk of witness intimidation.

2 October 2026 · 2 min read

Tamil Nadu Police headquarters on Beach Road, Chennai

Crime

Gem Granites founder and two associates detained under Goondas Act in POCSO cases

Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A. Amalraj has ordered the preventive detention of R. Veeramani, 84, and associates Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan, saying they posed a threat to public order. Four cases are under investigation; a WhatsApp tip line is open.

1 October 2026 · 2 min read

Crime

Three dead after illegal firecracker blast in Namakkal home workshop

Country-made crackers stored on the first floor of a house in Pandamangalam exploded around 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The shop owner, his wife and a worker were killed; police feared more people might still be under the debris as rescue teams worked past nightfall.

1 October 2026 · 2 min read

The Madras High Court, where Justice V. Lakshminarayanan passed an interim order on Wednesday.

Crime

"Not an area to play politics": High Court refuses, for now, to move Gem Granites POCSO case to the CBI

Justice V. Lakshminarayanan said the police had no "magic wand" to crack the case within four days of forming a Special Investigation Team, and ordered a status report by October 7. Separately, police have booked R. Veeramani over the death of a minor in 2004.

30 September 2026 · 3 min read

The main gate of IIT Madras in Chennai. The study was supported by the institute's Wadhwani School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

Technology

"Engineered brain freeze": IIT Madras study finds cyber fraudsters target doctors, bankers and even security experts

Interviews with 33 victims across five cities found that digital literacy offered little protection. Fraudsters struck at moments of stress, and losses ran from a few thousand rupees to more than ₹1 crore.

30 September 2026 · 3 min read