Man released on house arrest facing 17 new child luring charges
Heman Palani, 36, is facing an additional 17 charges—including child luring, possession of child sexual abuse material, and sexual assault—months after Alberta police arrested him for similar offences
Heman Palani, 36, is facing an additional 17 charges—including child luring, possession of child sexual abuse material, and sexual assault—months after Alberta police arrested him for similar offences in April and released him on house arrest.
True North first reported on Palani this spring. At the time, he was charged with multiple alleged child luring and sexual assault offences, including the creation and distribution of child pornography, following an investigation that began in late October 2024.
He was arrested on April 23 and released on 24-hour house arrest the following day.
Police then alleged Palani targeted girls between the ages of 13 and 16 through social media, using several aliases, and that there were two known victims.
According to Alberta authorities on Thursday, a forensic analysis of Palani’s seized devices allowed investigators to identify four additional victims, all between the ages of 14 and 17.
Palani is now facing a total of 17 charges and is being held in custody pending his next court appearance on December 19.
It remains unclear from the Edmonton Police Service media release whether the latest charges stem from alleged offences committed while Palani was on release.
Mike Tucker with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team confirmed in an email response to True North that the new charges were “historic in nature,” uncovered during a forensic search of Palani’s devices, and did not occur during his release.