In a bombshell video released on his YouTube channel, prominent political commentator Maridhas has shed light on the alleged instances of corruption by DMK Minister Ponmudi and his MP son, Gautham Sigamani, both of whom are under the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) scanner.
Both Ponmudi and his son were grilled overnight by the ED officials, in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged illegal sand mining.
Illegal Mining Of Red Sand
அமைச்சர் பொன்முடி அவர் மகன்கள் மருமகள்கள் என மொத்த குடும்பத்தையும் சிறையில் அடைக்க வேண்டும். அத்தோடு இவர்கள் கூட்டாக இந்த கொள்ளை அடித்துச் சேர்த்த அனைத்து சொத்துகளும் அரசு கையகப்படுத்த வேண்டும்!
ஏன் முழு விவரம் இங்கே -> (1/18) pic.twitter.com/wiFrhBmuPM— Maridhas (@MaridhasAnswers) July 22, 2023
The core of the investigation revolves around accusations of illegal mining of red sand without paying the mandatory seigniorage fee during Ponmudi’s tenure as the Minister of Mines and Minerals from 2007 to 2011. Reportedly, this alleged illicit activity resulted in a staggering loss of ₹28.36 crores to the Tamil Nadu Government. Ponmudi now finds himself grappling with charges of abusing and misusing his powers while holding the ministerial position.
Maridhas in his video shares that the Green Earth Minerals company gained its first mention in a First Information Report (FIR) filed regarding the alleged scrapping of red soil, a valuable mineral resource, in the village of Poothurai. According to this screengrab, the firm was established on 22 March 2008 by two people named Vivek and Raja Mahendran.
The FIR, filed in 2012, accused Minister Ponmudi’s son, Gautham Sigamani, and several others associated with them of conducting this scrapping operation without paying the appropriate fees to the government for nearly 60,000-70,000 lorry loads of resources.
However, it should be noted that the current video released by Maridhas does not pertain to the Poothurai village but involves another village, K Pichampatti, in the Karur district. The Tamil Nadu ministry reportedly discovered the presence of granite in the area, and it is alleged that a scam unfolded under Ponmudi’s watch.
Maridhas has accused Ponmudi of being involved in the illegal scrapping of granite from the abundant areas in K Pichampatti, along with some known associates. Interestingly, the land where the granite is abundant has been registered under the name of Raja Mahendran, who is connected to the founder of Green Earth Minerals company. Gautham Sigamani, the son of Minister Ponmudi, is also linked to this company.
As per the available information, Raja Mahendran acquired this land in September 2009 from 16 individuals, further connecting him to the alleged illegal mining operation.
Maridhas has released a third document that appears to shed further light on the alleged granite scam involving Minister Ponmudi and his associates. The document in question is a Government Order (GO) released in November 2009 when Ponmudi held the position of Minister.
According to Maridhas, this GO holds significant importance as it comes just two months after the transfer of land ownership to Raja Mahendran, a person linked to the founder of Green Earth Minerals company, and also reportedly connected to Ponmudi’s son, Gautham Sigamani.
The GO states that Raja Mahendran was granted permission to cut granites from a 6-acre area, with a depth of up to 90 feet. What raises suspicion is the duration of the permission, which extends from 2010 to 2030. The timeline of events, along with the absence of a public tender for the valuable granite-rich land areas identified by the government, indicates potential foul play in the process.
The lack of a transparent bidding process and the timing of the permission raise questions about the fairness and legality of the decision. Maridhas’ allegations point to the possibility of cronyism and misuse of power, with the GO potentially serving as crucial evidence to establish a connection between Ponmudi and the alleged illegal mining operations.
Maridhas has brought to light concerning information about Raja Mahendran, the individual granted permission to extract granite from the 6-acre area in K Pichampatti. Maridhas highlights that at the time of the GO issuance in November 2009, Raja Mahendran was just 27 years old, and seemingly lacking significant experience in the mining sector.
This revelation raises serious doubts about Raja Mahendran’s ability to carry out such an extensive scam single-handedly. Considering the complexities and challenges involved in large-scale granite extraction, it appears implausible for an inexperienced individual to orchestrate the entire operation alone.
Maridhas has aptly pointed out that the alleged involvement of big mineral companies or influential players in the mining sector may be a crucial factor in enabling Raja Mahendran to conduct the scam. The suspicion of a possible collusion between Raja Mahendran and powerful entities further adds weight to the accusations of corruption and misuse of power in this case.
The question of who may have been aiding Raja Mahendran in this operation becomes a pivotal aspect of the investigation.
Maridhas’ ongoing investigation into the granite scam has uncovered a potential connection between Madhucon Granites Limited, based in Andhra Pradesh, and the controversial activities in K Pichampatti. Maridhas has raised suspicions about the involvement of DMK in this matter.
Maridhas released documents that provide evidence of Raja Mahendran’s and Madhucon Granites Limited’s land acquisitions in the same area where the granite scam is alleged to have taken place. The survey numbers mentioned in the documents link both entities to the area in question.
Madhucon Granites Limited boasts a significant 37-year experience in granite quarrying, and it has a quarry on Google Maps covering around 34 acres. However, it is intriguing to note that the government has only permitted a much smaller area of 6 to 7 acres for granite extraction.
The fact that Madhucon Granites Limited acquired land in the same area around the same time that Green Earth Minerals Company was established raises serious suspicions. The timing and proximity of these activities strongly suggest a potential connection between the two entities and the alleged scam.
In a powerful conclusion to his video, Maridhas has appealed to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to thoroughly investigate the suspicious activities of Madhucon Granites Limited in connection with the alleged granite scam involving Minister Ponmudi and his son, Gautham Sigamani.
Maridhas’ investigation and the documents he released have raised significant concerns about the involvement of Madhucon Granites Limited in the procurement of granite from the same area where the alleged scam took place. The stark difference between the size of the government-permitted area and the extent of Madhucon’s quarry on Google Maps has added weight to the suspicions.
(With inputs from Maridhas Answers)
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