EV Velu, another booked for illegal excavation of the bottom of the lake for a flat place for the party
EV Velu | Photo credit: C. VENKATACHALAPATHY
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has registered a case against EV Velu, DMK MLA and former Minister for Highways, Minor Ports and Public Works, his son EV Kumaran, other public servants and contractors, among others, on charges of illegal excavation of material from the lake bed at Malappambadi village in DMK’s Zo Youne district of Tiruvannamalai WTO North. December 2025.
The case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Jayaram Venkatesan, organizer, Arappor Iyakkam.
The allegation is that Mr. Velu misused his official position and facilitated the excavation and removal of lake bed material from the Malappambadi lake of about 12 acres.
The material was excavated to a depth of about 10-23 feet from November 2025 to the first week of December 2025 for leveling the conference venue with the active consent of the Revenue, Collectorate, Corporation and other officials concerned.
About 45,72,058 cubic feet of sand from the lake bed was reportedly transported from about 8 acres of the lake, resulting in an estimated loss of ₹8.22 crore to the state exchequer.
Illegal driveway
It was also alleged that the access road was illegally widened and laid over and over the dam of the reservoir and the Malappambadi Lake coastal area up to the entrance gate of Mr. Vela’s family property where the conference was held.
No permission has been obtained from the Revenue, Corporation or Geological and Mining Authority, Tiruvannamalai District, for quarrying and removal of gravel/lake bed material from the water body.
Unauthorized mining/mining of soil and gravel was found at various places in the lake area during the verification with the assistance of the concerned staff of Finance and Geology and Mining Department, thereby confirming the allegation of illegal mining.
In November 2025, Arul Arumugam, a former functionary of the organization, submitted petitions to the district authorities alleging illegal excavations. However, no effective measures have been taken to stop the mining, to find out the extent of unauthorized mining, to identify the persons responsible or to start the appropriate proceedings.
Despite information and complaints about unauthorized excavation, officials did not take effective action.
“Such willful and willful inaction, despite knowledge of illegal mining, prima facie indicates connivance with the persons involved and willful failure to fulfill their legal obligations thereby facilitating and enabling illegal mining and removal of material from the lake bed,” DVAC said in its FIR.
Published – 27 Sep 2026 23:35 IST