DVAC Books DMK Leader Durai Murugan in Alleged ₹1,427-Crore Sand Mining Scam

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has registered a formal case against senior DMK leader Durai Murugan and several other individuals. The investigation centers on alleged irregularities in river and sand mining operations that have resulted in an estimated loss exceeding ₹1,427 crore to the public exchequer.

Following the registration of the case, vigilance officials launched coordinated searches across 34 locations spanning Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. According to an official release, these operations led to the seizure of 825 incriminating documents, 11 electronic devices, and three bank locker keys.

The legal action stems from complaints filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Chennai, alongside representations made by S Tamilselvan and Jayaram Venkatesan, who serve as conveners for the anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam.

The underlying complaints detail multiple procedural violations in the contracting and extraction processes. Specifically, the allegations state that contracts were awarded through limited tenders rather than standard open tenders. Furthermore, investigators claim that sand was extracted beyond approved mining plans, and that permit-slip vouchers were fabricated and utilized as genuine documents to facilitate the illegal transportation of sand.

"This case highlights the critical importance of transparent governance, open tendering, and strict regulatory compliance in natural resource management. For businesses and enterprises operating in regulated sectors, adherence to legal frameworks and transparent contract allocation is essential to mitigate severe operational and legal risks." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes