TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Mining trader Prashant Sahoo, who was arrested by the Special Investigation Team of Crime Branch, last Saturday for impersonating a Central government officer, was on Tuesday granted conditional bail by JMFC, Panjim.
The SIT, probing illegal extraction and transportation of iron ore mining, had arrested him from Dona Paula for allegedly impersonating as Union Revenue Secretary and directing the IT Department to raid Kadnekar mine in Quepem.
The department had thereafter filed a complaint with the Panjim police after it found the mobile number belonged to Sahoo, who had faked his identity. The case was subsequently transferred to SIT.
His legal counsel, Swapnil Nashinolkar, informed that Sahoo was released on personal bond of Rs 15,000 and a surety of the like amount. The Court has also asked him not to leave the State and the country, appear before the SIT from March 26 to April 2 and submit residential addresses as well as phone numbers to the Court.
The Nagpur businessman has filed for anticipatory bail for another offence wherein he has been charged with transporting sub-standard ore without the knowledge of Company Kadnekar Mine with which he was associated, and for violating its agreement.
