TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Crime Branch officials visited the mining department Thursday as part of the inquiry into illegal mining after a criminal complaint was filed by the department, officials said.
The team of CB headed by deputy superintendent of police (DySP) Nilu Raut Desai visited Mines department for verification of documents and also held discussion with Assistant Director of Mines Parag Nagarcekar as Director Prasanna Acharya was not present.
“A preliminary inquiry is underway. It is a voluminous complaint. We are scrutinizing the documents. An FIR will be lodged thereafter,” a senior officer told Herald on condition of anonymity.
Sources said that Desai along with Police Inspector Sunita Sawant had visited the department and sought verification of documents. Officials wanted to meet the director for certain clarifications but could not meet him as he was on leave, the source added.
Mines Director Prasanna Acharya had filed a complaint on July 26 based on reports of Central Empowered Committee (CEC), Justice M B Shah Commission and Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
“No individual has been named in the complaint. Wherever there are instances (of any person involved), we have referred it for detailed investigation,” the officer said.
Justice Shah, in his comprehensive report to the Union Mines Ministry brought out that there was a likelihood that the illegal mining scam could be worth around Rs 35,000 crore.
