Five fresh criminal cases were registered on Saturday against granite tycoon P.R. Palanichamy of PRP Exports, his family members and relatives in the multi-crore granite quarrying scam in Madurai district.
Of the total 72 cases registered by Madurai rural district police in the illicit granite quarrying and related cases, 41 cases have been slapped against Mr. Palanichamy and his family members for illegal quarrying and land grabbing. Charge-sheets have been filed in seven cases so far. The list of accused in these five cases registered by Melur and Keelavalavu police stations included, Mr. Palanichamy’s wife Selvi, his sons, Senthil Kumar and Suresh Kumar, his daughter, Sivaranjani, his daughter-in-law, Chandraleka and a relative Murugesan.
The cases were registered based on complaints registered by the Village Administrative Officers of Navanipatti and Keelavalavu.
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A police officer said that the cases were being registered as and when reports of evaluation of damage and loss incurred by the State exchequer by way of illicit granite quarrying were received from the district administration. The family members had been booked for illicit quarrying on government land, water bodies, channels, theft of granite, destruction of water bodies and channels and failure to comply with the provisions of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. They had also been accused of misusing the explosives for illegal mining.
The accused have been booked under various Sections of Indian Penal Code on charges of criminal trespass, theft, criminal conspiracy, damaging irrigation channel, destruction of place of worship and disturbing religious Assembly.
They have also been booked under the provisions of Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992, and under Explosive Substances Act.
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The Melur police on Friday registered a case against one M. Rajapandi, of Perambalur district for illegal quarrying and encroachment of a water body at Navinipatti.