PANJIM: Luck does not seem to be in favour of the Alemao family as Joaquim Alemao, who was grilled for three hours on Wednesday in connection with the ongoing investigation into the illegal mining scam, could face arrest.
The former urban development minister and raising contractor at S Kantilal & Co Pvt Ltd appeared before the special investigation team (SIT), in response to summons.
SIT has confirmed that he will be summoned again while it has not ruled out his arrest. “We will summon him again after verifying the responses to our questions related to the case. If need be, he will be arrested,” an officer told Herald.
If arrested, Joaquim will be the second member in the family to be in custody as his older brother Churchill is under judicial custody after his arrest on August 5 in the Louis Berger bribery case.
Emerging from the SIT office, Dona Paula, Joaquim accused the authorities of harassment. “This is harassment for both of us in the name of investigation. Before, it was for my brother (Churchill) and now for me. I am not involved in any illegal mining. I am not a mine owner or a trader. I have a firm which supplies mining machinery to mine owners,” he said.
He added, “God is with me. Truth will prevail. Those who did illegal mining are sleeping. Only God knows that I am not involved in anything. I don’t want to say anything else. I believe in God and truth will prevail.”
Former Independent MLA and mine owner Anil Salgaocar’s sons – Arjun and Sameer – failed to respond to summons citing their father’s ailing condition. Sources said their lawyer submitted a letter where both brothers sought time to join the investigation. They have now been called on Monday.
The SIT in 2014 had registered a criminal offence against Joaquim, company’s director Anil Salgaocar and others under various sections of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
The investigation followed a complaint lodged by Mines Director Prasanna Acharya accusing the Sanguem-based firm of carrying out illegal mining and ore extraction.
