Team Herald
PANJIM: The SIT arrested Assistant Geologist of Mines & Geology Department, Ramnath Shetgaonkar, for his alleged involvement in the case consisting of 183-odd mining leases.
According to the team, as technical head, Shetgaonkar was involved in the inspection of sites where illegal ore extraction of lakhs of metric tonnes was carried out. He had inspected the Korgao lease wherein Jitendra Deshprabhu is an accused. He had not only allegedly failed to inform the authorities on the ore extraction at Korgao but also allegedly failed to put criminal action into motion for theft of iron ore by individuals, firms etc at other leases.
“His action facilitated perpetrators in wrongful gain of crores of rupees and loss to the State exchequer due to the unlawful act and omissions on the part of public servant. The said act and omission cannot be done without monetary benefits,” SP Kartik Kashyap said.
Shetgaonkar was also dealing with the Amalia Figueiredo lease file.
wherein by virtue of Power of Attorney, Imran Khan (another accused in the case) and brothers operated the mine illegally as proxy to the influential politician. “As a public servant he failed to proceed with the legal action and allowed Khan and others to operate mine illegally,” the officer said, adding that Shetgaonkar while dealing with one more lease file allowed one Rajesh Timblo to pay government dues prior to transfer of lease in his name.
Investigations also suggest wrong notings on files by Shetgaonkar for compounding of offence as well as assessment of fines which are in violation of the law. This allegedly facilitated perpetrators to get away with legal criminal action involved in illegal mining that caused loss to the exchequer and damage to environment.
Sources told Herald that his close family members own a resort and two metal quarries, which could also come under the scanner.
