India, Feb. 18 -- The Madras high court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe into alleged large-scale illegal mining of beach sand by private mining companies in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu that has caused losses to the tune of Rs.5,832 crore to the state exchequer and inflicted irreparable damage on the coastal ecology and environment.

A division bench comprising justices SM Subramaniam and M Jothiraman, while hearing a batch of petitions, including a suo motu PIL, directed the federal agency to register criminal cases and launch investigation. It directed the CBI director to constitute special investigation teams (SITs), consisting of officials with expertise and high integrity to cond...