India, Oct. 22 -- Industrialist R Veeramani's manager procured 23 bars of gold to protect his boss, who was arrested in August in Chennai for allegedly sexually assaulting girls over years, investigators said.

Shaktivel, the manager, was arrested on October 18 for allegedly transferring cash to "influential people." Police have not named anyone who received money or gold from him.

A police officer said a probe is underway to ascertain whether Shaktivel transferred the funds to protect Veeramani from police action.

Veeramani, 84, was arrested after a local court rejected a police closure report in the case in February. The report was filed four months after Veeramani's purportedly explicit video with a minor was submitted to the police ...