Madras High Court bars videos linked to POCSO case against GEM Granites founder R Veeramani

The Madras High Court on Friday restrained media organisations, intermediaries and digital platforms from publishing or circulating videos linked to the ongoing investigation against GEM Granites founder R Veeramani in connection with a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) [Tulir Charitable Trust Vs Commissioner].Justice V Lakshminarayanan passed the interim order after observing that publication of video material connected with the investigation could reveal the identities of the victims and discourage other victims from coming forward and recording their statements before the police.The Court noted that the investigation was at an advanced and crucial stage and that the police were still trying to ascertain whether there were more victims than those already identified.“At this juncture, if there were to be news debates or photographs being uploaded, there is a distinct possibility that other victims might not come forward to record their statement to the police, fearing the consequences it can have on their lives,” the Court said..The Court therefore restrained entities, intermediaries and digital platforms from publishing, broadcasting, uploading, transmitting, sharing, circulating, reproducing or otherwise disseminating videos touching upon the case.At the same time, Justice Lakshminarayanan declined to impose an absolute restraint on discussion. The Court clarified that the media and others could discuss issues arising out of child abuse, so long as such discussions did not touch upon the factual matrix of the ongoing investigation.The Court passed the order on a petition filed child-rights organisation Tulir Charitable Trust which moved the Court claiming that publishing videos or any particulars capable of identifying the victims could affect their privacy and reveal their identities..To ensure that the public continued to receive official information, the Court directed the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Director General of Police/Head of Police Force to issue a press release once every week..While balancing the rights of the press with those of the victims and the accused, the Court also referred to the media coverage during the Mumbai terror attacks.“While this court cherishes freedom of speech and expression, and in particular the freedom of the press to disseminate information, this court is also reminded of the gruesome incidents of what happened during the Bombay terrorist attack. It was only on account of constant press exposure and coverage that all the activities and strategies that were being adopted by the law enforcement agencies came to the know of things of the handlers of the terrorists, and they were taking countermeasures, defeating the very purpose for which the security personnel had been deployed.”.The Court further observed that the right to report carries with it a corresponding duty, not only towards the children involved but also towards the accused.“Right has a corresponding duty, and this duty is not only owed to the children, but also to the accused involved in the case.”.Justice Lakshminarayanan added that while the press had a right to report, the Court would have to examine whether that right extended to a “right to media trial”..The case dates back to October 2025, when a child-rights worker handed the police a pen drive allegedly containing Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) and a note naming R Veeramani. The police initially filed a closure report in February 2026 citing inadequate evidence, but the special POCSO court refused to accept it and ordered further investigation. The renewed probe led to the identification of more victims and the arrest of the accused persons in August 2026..The petitioner-NGO was represented by advocate Deepika Murali. .The State was represented by Public Prosecutor R John Sathyan along with Special Government Pleader Arun Anbumani..The Union government was represented by Senior Central Government Standing Counsel Kumaraguru.