ED Attaches Rs. 6.51 Crore in Assets in Illegal Granite Mining Case in Kerala
(Judicial Quest News Network)
In a significant move against illegal mining operations in Kerala, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Cochin Zonal Office, has provisionally attached assets worth Rs. 6.51 Crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with a case involving illegal granite mining activities in the Mukkunnimala region.
The investigation by the ED has revealed a large-scale operation of criminal misconduct, dating back to 2010-2014, involving several key figures. These include the former President of Pallichal Panchayat, Thiruvananthapuram, and several officials, including J. Albert, J. Noel Raj, Ajayakumar G.S., and R. Gopakumar, the District Geologist of the Mining and Geology Department. The accused allegedly colluded to abuse their official positions, issuing illegal quarrying and crushing licenses to individuals and companies, including Thomas Philip, Arun Varghese, and Sudhakaran Vamadevan.
These fraudulent licenses were granted for quarrying activities in Block No. IV of Pallichal Village, a region earmarked for rubber cultivation and government land. In doing so, they violated several legal provisions, including the Kerala Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 1967, the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, and the Special Rules for the Assignment of Government Lands for Rubber Cultivation, 1960.
The illegal mining operations generated substantial proceeds of crime (POC), with mining activities being carried out on government lands. These operations were traced back to companies like M/s Metro Aggregates and Sand India Pvt. Ltd., M/s K K Rocks and Granites India Pvt. Ltd., M/s AVJ Readymix and Blocks Pvt. Ltd., and M/s VSC (Hollow Bricks and Crushers division). The ED has attached properties in the names of these companies and their directors, including a value of Rs. 2.42 Crore in assets linked to M/s Metro Aggregates and Sand India Pvt. Ltd., Rs. 2.22 Crore in properties tied to M/s K K Rocks and Granites India Pvt. Ltd., and Rs. 1.86 Crore associated with M/s VSC Hollow Blocks and Crushers Division.
This action by the ED underscores its commitment to curbing illegal mining and bringing those responsible for such criminal activities to justice. Further investigation is ongoing as the agency continues to track the flow of illicit funds linked to these illegal operations.
