Team Herald
PANJIM: The arrest of Assistant Geologist Ramnath Shetgaonkar has exposed the magnitude of the illegality in the Mines & Geology Department, as some more officials have come under the scanner. Shetgaonkar was arrested on Tuesday evening for his alleged involvement in the case consisting of 183-odd mining leases.
With his arrest, a few other mining officials could face the heat with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) reportedly preparing questions for their interrogation. “Some officials from the Mines Department could be summoned for questioning. However, all that also depends on Shetgaonkar’s interrogation,” an officer said.
The officer, who could be suspended, was admitted to Goa Medical College and Hospital soon after his arrest. Sources said he complained of uneasiness after which he was rushed to the hospital. He was discharged only after the SIT sought a medical report from the doctors.
“Interrogation on day 1 did not happen because he was discharged only on Wednesday evening after which he was produced before the local court for remand. He has been remanded to five days police custody. We will begin his questioning tomorrow (Thursday). Our team members are simultaneously conducting a wider probe against all those involved in the scam,” the officer said.
Shetgaonkar has applied for bail and arguments will be heard on November 11.
As a technical head, Shetgaonkar was involved in inspection of several sites in Goa where illegal extraction of iron ore in lakhs of metric tonnes was carried out. He had also inspected the Korgao mining lease wherein politician Jitendra Deshprabhu is an accused and was recently chargesheeted in the case. The officer had not only failed to inform the authorities about the illegal extraction of ore at Korgao, for which he could face a separate charge, but also failed to put criminal action into motion for theft of iron ore by individuals, firms etc at other leases.
Shetgaonkar was also dealing with the Amalia Figueiredo lease file where in by virtue of Power of Attorney, Imran Khan (another accused in the case) and brothers operated the mine illegally as proxy to an influential politician. “As a public servant he failed to proceed with the legal action and allowed Khan and others to operate the mine illegally,” SP Kartik Kashyap 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 complete violation of the law. This further facilitated the perpetrators to get away with legal criminal action involved in illegal mining that caused loss to the exchequer and damage to environment.
—
SIT summons former Principal Secretary (Mines) Yaduvanshi
IAS officer and former Principal Secretary (Mines) Rajeev Yaduvanshi, has been summoned by SIT to appear for questioning on Friday and Saturday. The officer is currently Health Secretary in the Delhi government. Sources said the officer was allegedly involved in condonation of delay, and SIT has also laid hands on official notings with his signature.
In the Justice M B Shah Commission report, the head of the mines department, the mines director and the head of the government (the Chief Minister) were held responsible for ‘allowing the large-scale illegal mining to continue despite being aware of the extent of illegalities in the period from 2006-2011, when they were at their peak’. Yaduvanshi had served as Principal (Mines) Secretary from 2006-2011, during which Justice Shah claimed majority of Goa’s illegal mining occurred.
