The Madras High Court on Monday ordered a CBI probe into the massive alleged illegal beach sand mining to the tune of Rs 5832 crore by private mining companies in the coastal districts of Tirunelveli, Tutocorin and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and wanted among others, the agency to investigate the role of officials in the scam while saying political nexus cannot be ruled out in the matter. A division bench comprising Justices S M Subramaniam and M Jothiraman directed the central agency to register criminal cases and launch investigation. The bench was passing orders on a batch of petitions including a 'suo motu' PIL, V V Minerals and 29 others. The Director, CBI shall constitute required number of Special Investigation Teams, consisting of officials with expertise and high integrity to conduct the investigation into this scam. Further, the CBI Director should monitor the investigation of the SITs to be constituted. The bench said the key issue that needs to be investigated includes the modus operandi of the illegal beach sand mining Mafia, the role of officials including the omissions and commissions of all the officials from the senior most in the chain of command responsible for this "huge economic loss to the State exchequer." Based on the investigation, the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of India, as the case may be, were directed to initiate suitable departmental disciplinary proceedings simultaneously against the officials involved in the scam. Liberty is granted to any person to initiate contempt proceedings in the event of violation of any of the directions issued by this Court in the present Judgment", the bench added.