The Madras High Court has directed the Director General of Police (DGP), Tamil Nadu, to provide an armed security guard to retired IAS officer U. Sagayam, an IAS officer of 2001 batch, whenever he appears before the trial court as a witness in the multi-crore granite mining scam case that he helped expose during his tenure in public service.
The direction came while hearing a petition filed by Sagayam, who informed the court that the police protection provided to him since 2014 had been withdrawn in 2023 without any prior notice, despite continued threats allegedly posed by the granite mining mafia.
Sagayam Cites Threats After Withdrawal of Security
In his petition, the retired IAS officer submitted that the withdrawal of police protection had left him vulnerable, making it difficult for him to appear before the trial court and depose as a key witness in the high-profile granite mining scam.
Sagayam told the court that he continues to face threats from those allegedly linked to the illegal granite mining network and that adequate security is essential to enable him to participate in the judicial proceedings without fear.
He further informed the court that he had submitted a formal representation in October 2025 seeking the continuation of police protection and had also requested the authorities to expedite a decision on his plea.
State Says Request Under Review
When the matter came up before Justice G. K. Ilanthiraiyan on Monday, the Tamil Nadu government informed the court that Sagayam’s request for extending police protection was currently under review.
Taking note of the submission, the court directed the Tamil Nadu DGP to provide at least one armed gunman to Sagayam whenever he appears before the trial court as a witness.
The High Court also instructed the authorities to expedite the review process regarding his request for continued police protection.
Key Witness in Granite Mining Scam
U. Sagayam, known for his anti-corruption initiatives during his administrative career, played a significant role in uncovering the alleged irregularities in the multi-crore granite mining scam while serving in the state administration.
As a key witness in the ongoing criminal proceedings, his testimony is considered important to the prosecution’s case.
The High Court’s interim direction seeks to ensure that Sagayam can participate in the trial without concerns over his personal safety while the government takes a final decision on his request for continued security.
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