Madras HC denies bail to 3 granite quarry lessees

R M Ramanathan, P K M Selvam and S Sankaranarayanan are accused of causing Rs 170 crore loss to the state

The Madras High Court has denied bail to three granite quarry lessees, accused of causing Rs 170 crore loss to the state exchequer, by illegal quarrying.

Justice V M Velumani dismissed the anticipatory bail applications of R M Ramanathan, P K M Selvam and S Sankaranarayanan, who sought immunity from arrest in cases booked by the district crime branch, Madurai.

The judge said she was not inclined to grant advance bail since serious charges of excavating deep pits, using explosives and endangering lives of men and cattle had been levelled against them.

The prosecution case was that Ramanathan had carried out illegal quarrying over a period of time, violating the terms of lease. A special committee had found that he had illegally quarried 4,545 cubic meters of granite in the district, besides 2,626 cubic meters from adjacent land.

Similarly Selvam and Sankaranarayanan had illegally quarried 70,819 cubic meters of granite. They used explosives, endangered the lives of men and cattle and caused damage to public property, the prosecution said.