Madras HC refuses bail for accused in granite quarrying scam

The Madras high court on Thursday refused bail to former state industries minister M Chinnasamy and former Tamil Nadu Minerals Corporation chairman A N Dyneswaran who were arrested in the granite quarrying leasing scam.

Justice K Govindarajan said prima facie evidence showed the accused granted leases for pecuniary benefits by abusing their position.

Stating that the law upheld custodial interrogation as necessary for the purpose of getting the truth, the judge said both the accused had to be interrogated on the basis of witnesses' statements.

Referring to the argument that the prosecution had not arrested the other accused in the case, the judge conceded the public prosecutor's submission that their arrest would be considered as and when enough evidence was gathered.

According to the prosecution, cases had been registered on March 14 against Dyneswaran, Chinnasamy, former chief minister Jayalalitha Jayaram, former joint secretaries Badrinathan and Renugopal and others under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

They were alleged to have accepted Rs 390 million as bribe to lease out government land for granite quarrying to private parties. This was done despite objections from forest officials, district collector and the director of geology, causing the exchequer a loss of Rs 750 million.

UNI