TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Congress’ Quepem legislator Chandrakant ‘Babu’ Kavlekar deposed before the special investigation team (SIT), at its Ribandar office on Tuesday where he was grilled for nearly two hours in connection with Dahej Minerals bribery case.
“Babu’s wife is one of the shareholders of the company. We have questioned him and his wife will soon be summoned too,” an official said. The SIT had registered an offense taking suo-motu cognizance of allegations leveled by chairman of Dahej Minerals that the two senior Congressmen allegedly demanded Rs 10 crore bribe for allowing mining license at Poriem, Sattari. The duo father-son had denied the allegation.
The mining applicant had testified before the SIT stating that three years ago, directors of the company — Girish Pai and Uday Mahatme– had informed him about senior Rane’s claim that around 5,000 square metres of property in the mining lease area belonged to him. “Pai had alleged met Vishwajit who demanded Rs 6 crore for not raising any objection which was met. Pai was questioned during the course of the investigation.
Besides, the chartered accountant of Dahej Minerals has also submitted details which are being verified,” said a source.
The Ranes are presently on anticipatory bail in the case booked under sections 384 (extortion) and 120-B of Indian Penal Code and Section 7 read with sections 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
