Team Herald
PANJIM: Almost four years after its formation, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has finally summoned officials of the mining companies for questioning in the alleged illegal mining scam.
SIT, which has accelerated the pace of investigations, has summoned, the Director of Sociedade De Fomento Industries Pvt Ltd, Margao on May 30 at 11am, the Director of Damodar Mangalji & Co Ltd, Panjim on May 31 at 11 am, the Director of G N Agarwal Mining Pvt Ltd, Margao on June 1 at 3 pm, Director of H I Nathurmal, Panjim on June 2 at 11 am, Director of Bandekar Brother Pvt Ltd (RNSB Group), Vasco Da Gama on June 3 at 11 am.
SIT has also summoned the Managing Director of Timble Private Limited, Curchorem on June 6 at 11 am, Director of Chowgule and Company Ltd, Mormugao on June 7 at 11 am and Director of Talaulikar & Sons Pvt Ltd, Margao on June 8 at 11 am.
SIT has summoned almost all the main mining companies in Goa for questioning in its probe into the alleged illegal mining scam worth Rs 35,000 crore.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2012, had promised to recover the money from the scam within six months of its government coming to power. Investigations into the illegal mining cases have been
on at a very slow pace, however, in the last two months this has been hastened.
Of the 16 illegal mining cases handed over to SIT, three have been closed (C-Summary granted by the Court) and two were sent back to the police stations as they were of minor thefts.
In all six cases have been charge sheeted and five are pending investigation. The SIT is currently headed by IPS officer Priyanka Kashyap and investigations have been handed over to Police Inspector Dattaguru Sawant.
The list of cases pending investigation includes two cases against Jitendra Deshprabhu, former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane, NCP leader Praful Patel and the Shah Commission report.
SIT has so far interrogated former minister Joaquim Alemao, former chief minister Digambar Kamat, Under Secretary of Mines, Secretary of law, CCF Shahi Kumar.
Besides Deshprabhu, Arvind Lolienkar, Gitesh Naik and Prassana Godge were arrested by SIT and released on bail.
Kamat’s and Lolienkar’s bail applications are pending before the Special Court, whereas interim relief has been granted. Both had been summoned by SIT for interrogation last month.
Crime Branch then registered an FIR in August 2013 against those named in various reports (Shah Commission and other committees) including Kamat, Lolienkar and other officials of the department, mining firms and others.
