PANJIM: Taking strong objection to him being called a ‘habitual offender’ by the investigation officer of Special Investigation Team (SIT) in its say before District and Session Court in the illegal mining case, former chief minister Digambar Kamat said he has not been convicted nor sentenced in any offence.
Kamat, in his rejoinder, mentioned that he is not habitual offender in terms of the Goa, Daman and Diu Habitual Offenders Act, 1976. ‘Habitual Offender’ is a person who has been sentenced on conviction, on not less than three occasions, to a substantive term of imprisonment in one or more of the offences committed on separate occasion, offences being not connected as part of the same transaction and such sentence having not been reversed in appeal or revision.
“I have been branded as a habitual offender without understanding the meaning of the term. I am yet to be convicted by any criminal court,” the rejoinder states.
He stated that his custodial interrogation is not required and that “all the documents are in the possession of SIT and there is no possibility of adding or and subtracting anything to that.” Kamat also denied receiving any illegal gratification as alleged.
“Although I am a politician, I am not politically influential person because the Congress is not in power in Goa or at the Centre. The question of threatening the witnesses or tampering with evidence, as alleged, therefore, does not arise,” the rejoinder reads. Kamat also denied the allegation that he is not cooperating.
He also said, “Section 164 CrPC statement of J B Bhinge has been doctored by the respondent. and I have reasons to believe that the said statement is involuntary.” He further stated, “I did not want to meet J B Bhinge as alleged.”
