Bengaluru: The Mysuru Sales International Limited (MSIL) has refuted the allegation by Leader of Opposition Jagadish Shettar that the company had misappropriated Rs. 5,850 crore in the import of sand from Malaysia. In a release here, it said that only 935 tonnes of sand worth about Rs. 37 lakh has been imported and sales have just started.

“The requirement of 180 lakh tonnes over the next five years would have a turnover of Rs. 7,000 crore, which would amount to turnover and not misappropriation. Any future import will depend on the market demand, the clarification said and added that the tender documents provided by the company has been found to be in order by the tender technical committee,” the MSIL said in a press release.

The company has quoted Rs. 2,300 per tonne. “In Kerala, we have come to know through reliable sources that they have imported river sand and it is sold loose at Rs. 2,500 per tonne at the port,” it added.

The cost of river sand cannot be compared with that of M-sand, it said.

Further, on Shettar’s charge about the address of company, MSIL has said that the company is registered in free trading zone of UAE. Though execution addresses of the company are different, MSIL transacts with Poseidon FZE of UAE.