TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Opposition leader Pratapsing Rane and his MLA son Vishwajit were Saturday granted interim bail by a Mapusa court till the date of its next hearing which is July 8
The Ranes had applied for anticipatory bail in connection with the Special Investigation Team inquiry into the allegations of extortion against the father-son duo.
A first information report was registered Thursday night against the former chief minister and his son under Sections 384 (extortion) and 120B of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 7 read with Sections 13(1) (d) and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The case was taken up suo motu by SIT after Naik had made the allegations.
The mining company owner B Naik had alleged that a Director had told him in 2008 that Pratapsing Rane had demanded Rs 10 crore from him to help his company to get an environment clearance from the Centre to start operations at his mine in Poriem constituency. Naik had also alleged that his buyer had paid Vishwajit Rs 6 crore.
On Wednesday, SIT had recorded Naik’s statement at the police headquarters, and asked him to submit documents to substantiate his claims.
The SIT was set up to investigate illegal mining in the state, following the Shah Commission report.
