DVAC books DMK leader Durai Murugan in sand mining case
The agency alleges an estimated loss of Rs 1,427 crore to the state exchequer through irregularities at river sand quarries.
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has registered a case against DMK general secretary and former Water Resources Department (WRD) minister Durai Murugan regarding alleged sand-mining irregularities. According to reports from India Today, BusinessLine, and The Hindu, the case involves an estimated loss of Rs 1,427.34 crore to the state exchequer.
The investigation focuses on river sand mining at 28 quarries between 2021 and 2024. Officials stated that a preliminary assessment of just four of these sites revealed a revenue loss of Rs 1,427,34,23,059. The DVAC alleges that contracts were issued via limited tenders rather than open ones, mining exceeded approved limits, and fraudulent vouchers were used to transport sand illegally.
The first information report names Durai Murugan as the first accused, alongside retired Engineers-in-Chief A Muthaiya and Ramamoorthi, 14 WRD officials, and 10 private individuals or firms. The case follows complaints from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Chennai office, S Tamilselvan, and Jayaram Venkatesan of the anti-corruption group Arappor Iyakkam.
On Friday, vigilance teams searched 34 locations across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, including Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore. During these searches, the agency seized 11 electronic devices, 825 documents described as incriminating, and three bank locker keys. The DVAC stated that the investigation is continuing.