PANJIM: With the legal opinion clearing the way for Crime Branch to challenge mining trader Imran Khan’s bail in the High Court of Bombay at Goa, the legal heir of the Curpem-Quepem mining lease Maria Figueiredo could become a crucial prosecution witness. The District and Sessions Court has pointed out that neither the government nor the investigating agency has taken any action against her.
“No action has been taken by the respondents against the original lease holder. It shows that he (Khan) was carrying out mining operations at the instance of the lease holder namely Maria,” the court observed while passing the bail order in favour of Khan last week.
In her statement to the SIT, Figueiredo accused Khan of exploiting the property for personal gain claiming that her family was kept in dark about the iron ore activity. She alleged that Khan and his brother had misled her about the actual use of the mining lease.
“Upon death of my sister Georgina, one person who introduced himself as Imran Khan approached me along with his brother at my house at Loutolim and compelled me to sign some documents with regards to mining lease in the year 2007-2008. I do not remember exact date and year. He also told me that there is no ore in the said lease area. However, he would pay me monthly, quarterly in cash and also through bank towards handing over mining lease area for agricultural purpose,” she said emphasizing that ‘to the best of my knowledge the said mining lease was not working/existing’.
