PANJIM: Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Dr Prafulla Hede has alleged the FIR registered against him in the illegal mining case is a political move by the State government.
Hede recently moved the special court seeking anticipatory bail, which is likely to come up for hearing on Monday.
“This is a completely political (move against me). Let the law take its own course,” he said in a telephonic conversation with Herald on Sunday.
A former coordinator between the party’s State unit and the high command, Hede is charged with illegally running a mine in Collem between 1988 and 2007 wherein the lease’s renewal was allegedly done by illegally condoning the delay.
The mine owner questioned as to why government failed to cancel permissions/licence if it had come across any violation. “The entire functioning was based on the order for extension issued from New Delhi some 33 years ago. We have nothing to do… The matter is with Supreme Court…” he explained, adding, “I had told (authorities concerned), if they want to cancel, go ahead; and I will move the Supreme Court. But nothing was done.”
The politician reiterated he had nothing to do with the alleged illegality but had to approach the court as a precautionary step. He maintained the Special Investigation Team (SIT) communicated to him they do not require his custody.
“Let SIT tell the court they don’t require my custody. I don’t trust the government which is why the anticipatory bail application is filed. There is nothing to hide. I will appear (before the SIT for questioning) whenever they require me,” he said, adding that he has been lately going through medication for a minor illness.
The SIT had registered an offence against him and others under various sections of the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act on September 19, 2014. Earlier in 2012, Hede was among 40 mining lease holders who were issued show cause notices by the Mines Department asking why action should not be initiated against him for the offence.
