Granite scam in Tamil Nadu

Eighteen teams of officers created by the Madurai Collector, Anshul Mishra, started inspections on 2 August 2012, covering 175 quarries in the district. After, P. R. Palanisamy of PRP Exports and Panneer Mohamed (owner of Madura Granites in Melur) handed themselves over to the police.{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Another-granite-owner-surrenders-before-police/articleshow/15626643.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103114200/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-24/madurai/33365877_1_illegal-granite-prp-granites-police-custody |url-status=live |archive-date=2013-01-03 |newspaper=The Times of India |title=Another granite owner surrenders before police |date=2012-08-24}} The state government suspended nine people, including a tehsildar and deputy tehsildar in Madurai.{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Nine-officials-suspended-in-Madurai-granite-scam/articleshow/15610674.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103124411/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-23/madurai/33341004_1_deputy-tahsildar-pattas-melur |url-status=live |archive-date=2013-01-03 |newspaper=The Times of India |title=Nine officials suspended in Madurai granite scam |date=2012-08-23}} A senior clerk of Tamil Nadu Minerals Limited (TAMIN) was arrested.{{cite news|url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article595494.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220144905/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article595494.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 December 2014 |title=TAMIN clerk held; inspector suspended |newspaper=The New Indian Express |date=2012-08-25 |access-date=2012-10-27}} A representation made by Mishra to the chief secretary Debendranath Sarangi sought an inquiry by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) into the roles of public servants in this scandal.{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3832795.ece | title=States / Tamil Nadu : DVAC launches detailed enquiry into granite scam in Madurai | newspaper=The Hindu | date=2012-08-29 | access-date=2012-10-27 | author=S. Vijay Kumar}} After this exposure, the Tamil Nadu Government, worked with the Income Tax Department to carry out raids on other quarries across the state.{{fact|date=July 2020}}

The initial report sent by the Madurai collector at that time, Sagayam, placed the losses to the State government at 16,000 crore rupees. Some of the RTI (Right to Information) activists claimed that the losses could be estimated at, around 1 lakh crore rupees.{{sfn|The Pioneer|4 September 2012}}

P. R. Palanisamy, owner of PRP Exports and a billionaire with political connections, was arrested and his company was sealed.{{sfn|The Pioneer|4 September 2012}} Olympus Granites, allegedly owned by Durai Dayanidhi, son of former Union Minister of Chemicals, M. K. Azhagiri, was also accused of illegal quarrying.{{sfn|The Pioneer|4 September 2012}} The report submitted by U. Sagayam stated that 84 private quarries had violated license conditions and taken part in illegal mining.{{cite news|author=Express News Service |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2015/nov/27/84-private-quarries-violated-licence-norms-says-report-848668.html |title=84 Private Quarries Violated Licence Norms, Says Report |newspaper=Indian Express |date=2015-11-27 |access-date=2018-02-20}}

Palanichamy (age 60), his sons P. Senthil Kumar (37) and P. Suresh Kumar (31) and son-in-law A. Maharajan (25) filed anticipatory bail applications with the Madurai bench of the Madras high court apprehending arrest in a case registered by the Keelavalavu police station.{{sfn|"23 held in granite quarries' scam in Madurai district"}} Dayanidhi Azhagiri also filed an anticipatory bail petition with the high court bench.{{sfn|"23 held in granite quarries' scam in Madurai district"}} After anticipatory bail was granted, Azhagiri surrendered before Melur court on 14 December 2012.{{cite news|author=M. Vandhana |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/alagiris-son-surrenders-in-granite-scam-case/article4199378.ece |title=Durai Dhayanidhi surrenders in Melur magistrate court |newspaper=The Hindu |date=2012-12-14 |access-date=2013-05-14}}

2012

• 1 September: Raid of Geology and Mines Department office at the collectorate in Madurai by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption officials.{{sfn|NDTV|2 September 2012}}
• 2 September: Tamil Nadu police arrest four senior Government officers in connection with the scam.{{sfn|The Pioneer|4 September 2012}}
• 8 August: Police raid 12 granite firms and 23 people holding supervisory positions in those firms have been arrested.{{sfn|"23 held in granite quarries' scam in Madurai district"}} Of the 23 held, 14 are from PRP Exports, 3 from Sindhu Granites, 2 from GG Granites and 4 from Madura Granites.{{sfn|"23 held in granite quarries' scam in Madurai district"}}

2014

• 11 September: The Madras High Court appoints U. Sagayam as a Special Officer/Legal Commissioner to inspect various types of mining activities in the State and submit a report to the court within two months.{{cite news|author=K.T. Sangameswaran |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-appoints-ias-officer-sagayam-to-probe-illegal-mining/article6401134.ece|title=Sagayam to probe illegal mining |newspaper=The Hindu |date=2014-09-11 |access-date=2018-02-20}}

2015

• 23 November: Sagayam submits his report to the Madras High Court, estimating a revenue loss of Rs 65,154.60 crore.{{cite news|author=Express News Service |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2015/nov/27/84-private-quarries-violated-licence-norms-says-report-848668.html|title=84 Private Quarries Violated Licence Norms, Says Report |newspaper=Indian Express |date=2015-11-27 |access-date=2018-02-20}}

• People from Madurai

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Category:Illegal mining in India

Category:Political corruption in India

Category:Economy of Tamil Nadu

Category:Mining in Tamil Nadu

Category:Corruption in Tamil Nadu