They have been charged with various offences under the Indian Penal Code including mining without permission, damage to public property and erasing evidence, officials said today.
The action comes close on the heels of a detailed survey of 175 granite quarrying sites undertaken by the district administration last week following a report by former district collector U Sagayam estimating the loss caused to the state ex-chequer by illegal quarrying at Rs 16,338 crore.
Besides Durai Dayanidhi, cases have been filed against Nagaraj, his partner in a granite firm, T R Palanichamy, owner of a leading granite firm, and others on complaints from village administrative officers of E.Malampatti, Vellaloor and Keelavalavu panchayats, the officials said.
Besides granite, they have also been accused of quarrying vast amount of sand illegaly and destroying lakes and ponds.
Officials said some hillocks had totally 'disappeared' due to illegal quarrying. A leading granite exporter had buried high quality granites but they were detected by laser equipment.
Meanwhile, four persons, including Palanichamy, have moved the Madras High Court Bench here seeking anticipatory bail.
