ED Raids Continue In Tamil Nadu In Crackdown On Sand Mafia

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday continued its raids on the properties of industrialist Rathinam in Tamil Nadu's Dindigul district on Wednesday. The raids, which began on Tuesday, are being conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED is investigating allegations that Rathinam and his associates laundered money through sand mining activities. The agency is also probing whether Rathinam had any links with the sand mafia in Tamil Nadu.

The raids have been carried out at Rathinam's residence, office, and other properties in Dindigul and Karur districts. The ED teams, led by a deputy director, have seized a number of documents and electronic gadgets during the searches.

The sand mafia is a major problem in Tamil Nadu. It is estimated that the mafia earns billions of rupees every year through illegal sand mining. The mafia has been accused of causing environmental damage and displacing people from their homes.

In June 2023, the government suspended the sand mining licenses of 124 operators. The government has also announced plans to auction off sand mining rights in a transparent manner.