Team Herald
PANJIM: The Special Court under the Prevention of Corruption Act on Thursday granted conditional bail to mining trader Philip Jacob, who was arrested last month for his alleged involvement in illegal trade and theft of iron ore in Goa from 2007 to 2011.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing a series of cases of illegal mining, had found that his firm ‘Amalagiri’ had a turnover of over Rs 500 crore and the firm’s bank statements indicated transactions in different banks in Goa amounting to more than Rs 300 crore received from different exporters and thereafter paid to mine owners in Goa.
His bail on Thursday comes after he served 15 days in police custody and nine days in judicial custody. “He is asked to report to the SIT for 30 days, deposit his passport with the court, not to leave the country without the court’s permission, to remain present before the investigating officer as and when required, and not to interfere with the investigation/witnesses,” said a police source quoting the order.
Different lease holders, influential politicians and bureaucrats in mines Department and IBM Goa, Mines Ministry office in Goa have come under the police radar for alleged criminal conspiracy for theft.
