Tamil Nadu’s Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has conducted searches at 30 locations in connection with an alleged river-sand mining scam involving claims of extraction far above permitted limits and potential losses of thousands of crores to the state, according to a report by Dinamalar.
The searches were reported across the state, including locations in Pudukkottai and Dindigul. The operation followed a case registered by the anti-corruption agency based on an Enforcement Directorate investigation into alleged irregularities involving 28 sand quarries. The report said searches began in the morning and were being led by senior officials from the vigilance department.
Among the locations searched were the residence of sand quarry operator Ratinam in Dindigul and the residence of quarry operator Ramachandran in the Muthupattinam area of Pudukkottai district. The report also said that officials searched the residence of quarry operator Karikalan in Karambakkudi and conducted another search in the Aambal area under the leadership of a Mayiladuthurai anti-corruption police deputy superintendent.
The central allegation is that river sand was extracted at quantities up to 30 times higher than the permitted limits. Dinamalar reported that the Enforcement Directorate had registered a case over the alleged irregularities and sent a letter to the Director General of Police in June 2024. That communication reportedly referred to an alleged scam worth Rs 4,730 crore involving 28 sand quarries.
The case brings the administration of river-sand mining into focus because quarrying involves both public-resource management and environmental regulation. Excessive extraction can affect river channels, banks and local water systems, while unauthorised removal can also reduce the revenue collected through legal mining and government-authorised supply systems. The report, however, did not provide details of the specific evidence seized during the latest searches or identify the final liability of any individual or entity.
Arappor Iyakkam, a civil society organisation, also issued a statement on the registration of the case. Citing the Enforcement Directorate’s findings, the organisation alleged that 23 lakh units of river sand had been illegally extracted from 28 locations. It said it had submitted complaints and additional evidence to the vigilance department. The organisation further alleged that public officials, quarry operators and individuals close to them were involved in the alleged irregularities.
The allegations remain subject to investigation and legal proceedings. The reported searches are an investigative step and do not by themselves establish criminal liability. Further details on the materials recovered, the people questioned, the sections invoked in the case and the next stages of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption investigation were not available in the supplied report.
