DVAC Uses Drones to Survey Irrigation Tank in Illegal Sand Mining Case Involving DMK Leader E.V. Velu

Anti-corruption officials have launched a drone survey of an irrigation tank in Malappambadi village near Tiruvannamalai to investigate allegations of illegal sand mining. ## Investigation Details Investigators from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption carried out the survey alongside the Revenue Department, the Tiruvannamalai Corporation, and local police. The aerial survey aims to measure the total depth and width of the tank and check the damage caused to the water body. The operation was monitored by Ranipet DVAC Deputy SP Ganesan, Tiruvannamalai Revenue Divisional Officer K. Selvam, and Corporation Commissioner K. Balasubramanian.

The Complaint

The inquiry follows a complaint submitted by the NGO Arappor Iyakkam at the DVAC headquarters in Chennai on August 13. The complaint states that large amounts of sand were illegally removed from the tank under the direction of former PWD and Highways Minister and senior DMK leader E.V. Velu. The complainant claims this sand theft caused a loss of eight crore rupees to the state exchequer. The extracted sand was allegedly used to level an open land spanning 124.56 acres to host a DMK conference that was attended by former Chief Minister and party president M.K. Stalin alongside former Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Rules Violated

The NGO alleged that Mr. Velu oversaw logistical arrangements as the northern zonal in-charge for the 2026 Assembly polls. The complaint states that sand was mined from the tank bed to a depth of 10 to 23 feet across roughly 12 acres. Under the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules of 1959, the permissible mining limit is only one metre in depth, and excavated sand is restricted to local agricultural, pottery, and domestic use.

Context

Anti-corruption agencies use technical tools like drone surveys and official revenue measurements to gather physical proof in land and resource misuse cases. Such investigations often rely on formal complaints filed by watchdog groups and civil society organizations.