Madurai:
The owner of a granite company allegedly involved in illegal mining surrendered before the Additional Deputy Superintendent of Police in Madurai.
Police said that PR Palanisamy, owner of PRP Exports told them that no case had been registered against him, but he was surrendering in the wake of ongoing raids on his company and efforts to impound his passport and sealing of his bank accounts.
Police said cases had been registered against the company under various sections of Indian Penal Code, including illegal use of explosives, mining and violations of various sections of the mining Act and that his links to various crimes through his henchmen had been established.
He was formally arrested after he surrendered on Sunday.
The Madurai bench had also asked police to take strong action against illegal granite quarrying on a plea for a CBI enquiry through a PIL.
The court had also asked for a comprehensive report on action taken by the police and revenue departments in the alleged illegal mining, the losses of which were estimated at Rs 16,000 crore by former collector U Sagayam in his report.
Meanwhile, the Dindigul District Collector has received a complaint of alleged illegal mining to the tune of several crores in Vadamadurai area of the district.
The officials said a detailed list of officials who reportedly cooperated with granite firms was being prepared and action would soon be taken against all involved.