Scope for probe into granite scam enlarged: ED to Madras HC

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today informed the Madras High Court that the scope of probe into the multi-crore illegal granite quarrying scam was enlarged against several firms on the basis of FIRs registered in connection with it.
After perusal of the status report filed by the Assistant Director of the Directorate, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan adjourned the matter to October 4 after government counsel submitted the cases are in the final stage and he required 10 days time.
"It is suffice to say that the matter has not reached the conclusion though it is stated that in the main cases, investigations are in final stages."

The ED report said that after going through FIRs filed by Madurai police and preliminary enquiries it has registered seven Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), and taken up the probe under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
ECIRs were registered against Olympus Private Limited, PRP Exports and Palanichamy and others on the basis of the FIRs.
It also submitted that the charge sheets filed in these were awaited from Law Enforcement Agency (LEA).

The report pointed out that that the scope of the probe under PMLA was enlarged in the case against PRP Group of companies, to cover 47 FIRs registered against the group.

The ED said it was also examining other FIRs furnished by police for identification of further proceeds of crime, which involved money laundering.
The status report said if the police report mentioned offences leading to identification of 'proceeds of crime' involving PMLA, the ED would proceed further in this matter.
Senior IAS officer U Sagayam had been appointed as Legal Commissioner by the court to look into illegal mining charges.
The court had on February 15 directed the Tamil Nadu government to furnish it details on steps taken on Sagayam's report, which had said the actual loss to the exchequer was more than Rs 1,11,000 crore due to illegal mining in Madurai district.

Sagayam was appointed as Legal Commissioner to look into allegations of illegal mining on a PIL filed by social activist "Traffic" Ramaswamy.