Chennai, Nov 20: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has escalated its investigation into alleged irregularities and malpractices in the mining and sale of river sand in Tamil Nadu by summoning 10 district collectors for interrogation. This move marks a significant development in the ongoing probe, shedding light on the complex web of issues surrounding the state’s sand mining industry.
The ED, a central agency with extensive powers, has been systematically summoning and questioning contractors while collecting information about 25 sand quarries scattered across various districts in the state. The focus has now shifted to district collectors, who hold a pivotal role in the authorization and oversight of sand mining activities in their respective regions.
The top officials, designated as Collectors, are expected to appear before ED investigators in the coming days, adding a new dimension to the unfolding investigation. In the realm of sand mining, district collectors serve as the highest authority within their jurisdictions, making their summons a critical aspect of the ED’s pursuit of accountability.
Prior to summoning the district collectors, ED officials had interrogated engineers from the Water Resources Department (WRD), extracting insights into the procedural aspects and illegal sale of sand. Allegedly, these officials implicated the district collectors in the irregularities, underscoring the ED’s focus on understanding the entire chain of events in the sand mining process.
The ED’s proactive approach was evident when it conducted surprise checks at various sand quarry sites on September 12, seizing crucial evidence such as CCTV data storage devices, computer hard discs, fake receipts, and counterfeit QR codes. This prompted the agency to seek detailed information from the Water Resources Department, which holds jurisdiction over the supervision and control of sand mining and sales.