Tamil Nadu, 17 February (H.S.):

The Madras High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into the alleged Rs 5,832 crore illegal beach sand mining scam in Tamil Nadu. The court's order comes after it found evidence of a scheme of collusion, corruption, and connivance among government officials, private mining companies, and policymakers.

The scam involves the illegal mining of beach sand minerals, including monazite, in the coastal districts of Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanniyakumari. The court took suo-motu cognizance of the issue in 2015 based on allegations of large-scale illegal mining and sale of beach sand minerals by private mining companies.

The court observed that the facts of the issue, including the granting of mining leases, permitting illegal inclusion of monazite in mining leases, lack of efficient monitoring, and arbitrary royalty settlement, suggested a scheme of collusion, corruption, and connivance among government officials, private mining companies, and policymakers.

The court directed the CBI to register criminal cases and initiate investigations into the scam. The CBI has been asked to probe the involvement of officials at all levels, including policymakers, and to examine the modus operandi of the beach sand mining operations.

The court also expressed concerns about the national security implications of the scam, given the high concentration of monazite, a key component in India's nuclear policy, in the beach sand minerals.

The court directed other agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, Customs and Excise Department, and Commercial. axes Department, to scrutinize the financial and commercial transactions of the mining companies and to initiate investigations as necessary.

Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary