Senior DMK leader and former minister K. Ponmudi was today arrrested in connection with a red sand quarrying case, police said.
Police said Ponmudi was picked up from his residence in Villupuram district, over 160 km from here.
The Madras High Court had yesterday rejected his anticipatory bail plea.
Based on a report given by the Tahsildar of Vanur in Villupuram, the police had registered a case for alleged offences under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957, Tamil Nadu Mines and Minerals Concession Rule, 1959, Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and IPC.
The case relates to alleged irregularities in quarrying of red sand in ‘patta’ lands in the area.
Ponmudi, who was handling the portfolios of higher education, mines and minerals in the previous DMK regime, is the party strongman in Villupuram district.