DVAC Begins Probe into Rs 4,700 Cr Sand Mining Scam During DMK Regime
The DVAC formally launched the investigation by sending notices to the contractors, officials and others who were charged in the scam. A detailed enquiry will be carried out for establishing prima facie before registering a case.
Chennai: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has commenced its investigation into the Rs. 4,730 crore sand mining scam during the DMK government based on a complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which has sent a letter to the State DGP on 13 June 2024.
The DVAC formally launched the investigation by sending notices to the contractors, officials and others who were charged in the scam. A detailed enquiry will be carried out for establishing prima facie before registering a case.
The ED sent a letter to the Tamil Nadu DGP in 2024 with evidence of the illegal sand mining worth Rs. 4,730 crore and requested for the registration of an FIR but no action was taken by the police. The ED also sent a remainder to the DGP in the same year but no action was taken on the ED complaint.
The ED in its report said the agency collected evidence using advanced scientific techniques with the help of experts connected to the IIT-Kanpur. The amount of illegal sand excavated was assessed across all the 28 river sand mining sites using GPS. The survey revealed that mining was carried out beyond permissible limits and the value of the illegally mined sand was estimated at Rs. 4,730 crore.
The ED submitted that sand mining permitted across 28 sites covered 196 hectares in the 28 sites but the excavation took place in 987 hectares. The study used drones, LiDAR surveys and satellite imagery processing to assess the indiscriminate mining.