Duraimurugan Faces Charges in Major Illegal Sand Mining Scandal

In a significant development, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has filed a case against Duraimurugan, the general secretary of the DMK and former Minister of Water Resources, along with several others. This action is part of an investigation concerning an alleged multi-crore illegal sand mining scandal.

Investigation Overview

The DVAC's probe stems from comprehensive inquiries into complaints received from the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) and other sources. Initial findings pointed towards significant irregularities leading to the case against Duraimurugan, the first accused, as well as former Engineers-in-Chief A. Muthaiya and Ramamoorthi, along with 14 Water Resources Department officials, ten private firms, and additional individuals.

Nature of Allegations

Reports suggest that the allegations involve improper practices in river sand mining across 28 quarries in Tamil Nadu from 2021 to 2024. Specifically, it is claimed that contracts were improperly awarded through limited tenders rather than the required open tender process. Additionally, excessive quantities of sand were mined, and fraudulent vouchers—disguised as genuine under the name of 'Permit Slips'—were allegedly created to facilitate the illegal transportation of sand.

Financial Implications and Findings

The DVAC has expressed that the investigation revealed a staggering loss to the state, estimated at ₹1,427 crore, linked to irregularities at just four of the 28 quarries being examined. Investigative teams executed search operations across 34 locations, uncovering 825 incriminating documents, 11 electronic devices, and three keys to bank lockers.

ED's Role and Findings

This case comes in the wake of a letter sent by the ED over two years ago, which highlighted a potential ₹4,730-crore fraud related to illegal sand mining in the region. This federal investigation revealed alarming inconsistencies between the actual volume of illegally mined sand and the revenue reported by local officials, leading to a provisional attachment of assets worth ₹136.6 crore. This included 209 sand excavators implicated in illicit mining activities.

Through their investigations, the ED utilized advanced scientific methods, including drone technology, to assess illegal mining activity across various locations. It was concluded that a considerable amount of sand had been extracted unlawfully, leading to extensive revenue losses for the state.

Recent Developments

In response to the ongoing investigations, searches were conducted on residences belonging to both current and former government officials and businesses in Tamil Nadu. Among those affected were an Assistant Engineer and an Executive Engineer affiliated with the Mines and Monitoring Division.

Moreover, the ED has taken steps to secure a total of ₹12.82 crore in frozen assets and an additional ₹2.33 crore in unaccounted cash as part of this sweeping inquiry. Additionally, a substantial 1,024.6 grams of gold was seized, further underscoring the serious nature of the allegations.

Legal Challenges

As the investigation unfolds, complications have arisen, with a private construction company partner from Naganallur contesting the DVAC’s actions in court, seeking to prevent the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) based on the ED's previous findings.

With the situation continually evolving, this illegal sand mining case has drawn significant attention in Tamil Nadu, raising critical concerns about governance and oversight in regional resource management.