Team Herald
PANJIM: Congress has accused a senior Cabinet Minister in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Goa of being involved in a mining scam in Karnataka and dared Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to comment on the issue.
According to the Congress, a Special Court is expected to deliver its final verdict on February 24 and the party will wait till the court’s ruling. The court hearing the case is said to be dedicated to handling criminal cases involving elected MPs and MLAs.
The mining scam involves a total of 16 accused, including the mining firm owned by one of the accused from Hosapete, Ballari, Karnataka. The SIT, Karnataka Lokayukta, filed charges in 2016 and according to the prosecution, the accused – including the Goa Minister and his brother – allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy to illegally transport nearly 17 metric tonnes (MT) of iron ore from the lease area of M/s S B Minerals, Vyasanakere plot, and other mines. The ore was reportedly transported to Belekeri Port without proper permits from the Department of Mines and Geology and sold to M/s Eagle Traders and Logistics, allegedly bypassing legal royalty payments, TCS tax, and forest way charges. The prosecution claims the scam caused a loss of over Rs 1.5 crore to the government and facilitated illegal profits for the accused.
The accused face charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, along with violations of the Karnataka Forest Rules, 1969. Of the 16 accused, three have reportedly died while the trial remains pending.