Former minister M R Vijayabaskar booked for illegal sand possession

Trichy: Two AIADMK functionaries, including former Tamil Nadu minister M R Vijayabaskar, were booked on Thursday for illegal transport and possession of river sand.

The incident came to light on Feb 11, when village administrative officer (VAO) of Andankovil East village in Karur district, N Shanmugam, received information about sand being illegally stockpiled at the site owned by Vijayalakshmi. Revenue officials inspected the site and confirmed the presence of approximately 12 units of Cauvery river sand.


When questioned, the people there claimed they have valid documents and assured officials they would submit them by Thursday morning. However, no valid documents were produced.

Shanmugam lodged a complaint at Karur Town police station, alleging that Vijayabaskar had dumped the sand without authorisation and demanding seizure of the materia.l On Thursday, police registered a case against Vijayabaskar under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 21(1) of Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act.

According to sources, Vijayabaskar and AIADMK cadres had earlier seized around 10 vehicles, including trucks and earthmovers, allegedly involved in sand smuggling near Mallampalayam in the Cauvery river and handed them over to police at Vangal police station on Feb 10.

Vijayabaskar's move triggered protests by bullock-cart workers, who accused him of blocking their traditional sand collection and later attempted to besiege his residence. Now, Vijayabaskar himself has been subsequently booked for illegal sand possession.

In another inspection, officials found hundreds of units of sand dumped at a nearby site owned by a woman named K Samiyaathal. Her son-in-law Dhanapal, an AIADMK functionary allegedly dumped the sand. When officials tried to seize the river sand, local AIADMK cadres protested. A separate case was registered based on a complaint from the VAO.

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