Changes from Oct 1
Officials found more than 100 heavy vehicles carrying minerals with fake permits. A search at the printing unit led to the seizure of fake mineral permit passes and the arrest of two employees — Manikandan, 38, an MBA graduate from Boyampalayam, and Vignesh, 29, from Pattukkottai. Police are also examining whether the minerals were illegally quarried, whether quantities transported were under-reported or whether the forged permits were used to circumvent the prescribed mineral transportation process.
Chennai: A massive inter-state mineral smuggling racket involving fake govt permits, passes and seals was busted with the arrest of two printing press employees, who, police said, produced forged documents used by heavy vehicles transporting minerals from Tiruvallur and Ranipet districts to Andhra Pradesh . Police said a special team has been formed to trace Raju, owner of Rasi Graphics, who is absconding. The racket surfaced after Tamil Nadu geology and mining department received complaints about large quantities of minerals, including sand, being transported using permits resembling those issued by the department. Police suspect the forged passes were used to make unauthorised mineral consignments appear legitimate during checks by enforcement officials. Acting on complaints, a team headed by joint director of geology and mining Vediyappan conducted vehicle checks last week in Pullarambakkam police limits in Tiruvallur and Ranipet districts. The vehicles were seized and complaints were lodged with police. Questioning of the vehicle owners led police to Rasi Graphics on Central Avenue in Kodambakkam, Chennai, where the fake permits were suspected to have been printed. Vediyappan subsequently lodged a complaint with Kodambakkam police against the printing firm and its owner. Police registered a case under BNS provisions relating to cheating, forgery, making false documents and using forged documents as genuine. Investigators are probing how many fake permits were printed and circulated, who procured them and whether more people were involved in the racket.