Three charge sheets filed in granite scam case

Madurai: The prosecution side on Tuesday filed three charge sheets before the judicial magistrate court at Melur in Madurai district in connection with illegal granite quarry operations that took place in and around Melur taluk for years.
It also filed a charge sheet in a case relating to land grabbing by PRP Granites.
According to reports submitted before the magistrate court, Lakshmi Exports, P R P Granites and Anand Quarries were illegally quarrying granite blocks to an extent of 4.59 lakh cubic metre, which is worth of Rs 1,399 crore.
The sources said the Melur police filed a charge sheet in a case filed in 2013 against 19 people, including P K Selvaraj of Lakshmi Exports. The police have charged them with quarrying 2.15 lakh cubic metre granite stone illegally, the worth of which is Rs 431 crore using explosive substances and thereby causing damage to public property.
The Keelavalavu police submitted final report in a case registered against PRP Granite's 23 people including the granite baron P Palanisamy and his relatives in 2013. They have charged the accused of illegally quarrying 2.40 lakh cubic metre granite stone. The worth of it is Rs, 961 crore.
The Kottampatti police filed the report in a case booked against 7 people of Anand quarries in 2012. They have charged them that their firm quarried 3,496 cubic metre granite stole illegally and the worth of stone quarried is Rs, 6.99 crore.
As far as land grabbing issue was concerned, the district crime branch of Madurai filed a report stating that one Muthukumar who was acting as the power agent of PRP granites dishonestly purchased a land to an extent of 1 acre and 25 cent belong to one Sumathi of Narasingampatti. The land's worth is Rs, 1.50 crore.
The prosecution side has so far filed 33 charge sheets before the magistrate court.
"With regard to illegal granite quarry operations, different police divisions in the district have registered 98 cases against granite firms and the people concerned. Charge sheets have been filed so far in 33 cases, which included five reports filed last week," special public prosecutor for granite cases R Sheela told TOI.
Former Madurai collector U Sagayam on May 19, 2012 sent the preliminary report about the granite scam worth several crore of rupees. Following that, based on the Tamil Nadu government's instructions, the district authority took stern action against the granite firms by suspending their licenses, seizing the granite blocks and registering cases against the firms.
The Madras high court thereafter appointed Sagayam as advocate commissioner to ascertain the truth and submit a detailed report before the high court.