Summons likely to be issued to govt officials, mining firms named in the CEC, PAC reports
Cases registered against Magnum Minerals Pvt Ltd, Frost International Ltd and Bagadiya Brothers Pvt Ltd, against whom FIRs have already been filed by the SIT
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Enforcement Directorate on Monday registered a case in the illegal mining scam, and summons are likely to be issued against government officials, mining companies and others who have been named in various reports.
The ED’s investigation report, filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering (PML) Act, 2002, names government officials, mining companies and others identified and mentioned in the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC), Justice M B Shah Commission report and Goa State Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Two former Congress Chief Ministers – Pratapsing Rane and Digambar Kamat – have been named in the Shah Commission report which pegged the loss to government exchequer at Rs 35,000 crore.
The directorate has also registered cases against Magnum Minerals Private Limited, Frost International Limited and Bagadiya Brothers Private Limited, against whom FIRs have already been filed by the Special Investigating Team. The SIT is currently investigating 12 cases related to illegal mining and has filed chargesheet in one case involving former Mines Director Arvind Lolienkar.
Not willing to go into details, Pravin Pawar, Joint Director, Enforcement, said that the case has been registered against all those identified and mentioned in the report of Central Empowered Committee, Justice M B Shah Commission report and PAC report and that documents and other related records are being
collected from various agencies and being examined.
“Summons will be issued to various government officials, mining companies’ directors and to those involved in the process of illegal mining activities,” he said.
While the Shah Commission had pegged the loss to the State exchequer at Rs 35,000 crore, the PAC headed by then Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar has pegged it at Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 crore. However, both had accused former Congress government for allowing and shielding illegal iron ore extraction, transportation and export of ore.
According to the investigation, the peak of illegal mining in Goa was between 2007-2011. Following the Shah Report, the State government had suspended mining operations in the State in 2012. This was followed by an 18-month long ban imposed and lifted by the Apex Court in April 2014.
Social activist and former Congressman Sudip Tahmankar had in 2011 filed a complaint with ED outlining criminal conspiracy, cheating, besides seeking justice under Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, and Section 22 of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act 1957.
