Allow us to export granite: Palanisamy’s son

MADURAI: Granite baron P Palanisamy’s son and partner of PRP Granites and PRP Exports P Senthilkumar, 39, on Friday moved the Madurai bench of the Madras high court seeking to allow them to export granites mined from quarries situated outside Madurai district and open new bank accounts.
Senthilkumar had filed two writ petitions. PRP Granites and PRP Exports are in the dock in connection with the alleged Rs 16,338-crore granite scam.
In his petition, Senthilkumar said they were into granite business for the past 19 years without indulging in any violations. The two firms also own a factory in Therkutheru village in Melur to cut and polish granite stones.
The firms’ businesses were suspended in Madurai based on the report of former Madurai collector U Sahayam (now the Madras high court-appointed officer to probe into illegal granite quarries in Madurai) and his successor Anshul Mishra’s follow-up action. However, quarrying activities in other districts was carried out by the company until the deputy superintendent of police, Prohibition Enforcement Wing, Madurai, had sent a letter to authorities in Chennai and Tuticorin ports. He was the investigatio0n officer (IO) into the alleged illegal granite quarrying activities. The letters sent on August 12 and 21, 2012, requested the port authorities not to permit export of granites quarried by the companies of Madurai.
“The IO has also sent letters to Reserve Bank of India regional director (Tamil Nadu) seeking to freeze accounts of our company,” the petitioner said.
He said the report of Sahayam was exparte. Based on the report and his successor Anshul Mishra’s follow-up action, the police had filed criminal cases against the petitioner’s firms.
“The report and criminal case filed against our company pertains to quarries situated only in Madurai district. And, there is no prohibition whatsoever for the company to operate the quarries situated outside Madurai district and for its polish factory situated in Therkutheru village,” the petitioner claimed.
Due to IO’s letters, Senthilkumaran said, they were not able to export granites quarried Madurai district and open new accounts in banks. The IO’s action is against the provisions of the Constitution, he said.
A representation was sent to the IO on June 9 this year insisting to send clarifications to the ports and banks with regard to his company’s grievance, the petitioner said. But, there was no reply, he said.
Hence, writ petitions were filed seeking direction to the IO to send clarification letters to ports and banks accepting the petitioner’s claim.
When the matters came up for admission, Justice T Raja directed notice to the IO and adjourned the matter by 10 days.