Team Herald
PANJIM: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Crime Branch arrested mineral trader Kancha Gaunder for his alleged involvement in illegal mining and theft of iron ore. The investigation team is confident that the Tisk-Usgaon resident, and a native of Salem, Tamil Nadu, could help unearth a deep-rooted criminal conspiracy.
“The bank details suggest crores of Real Time Gross Settlement in his account from mining related firms and individuals. The accused paid the mining lease holders and illegal suppliers of ore in crores of rupees, for the purchase of iron ore. These were later sold to exporters,” said an official.
The investigation sleuths reveal that though the accused is registered with the Department of Mines & Geology, he would allegedly intentionally not file returns for the trade of iron ore and thus evaded dues to the State government. “In connivance with others, he excavated about one lakh metric tonnes of iron ore at Paikul, Valpoi mining lease. The lease was allegedly taken over by the Salgaonkar Mining Industries,” he added.
While producing him in court seeking 10 days remand for custodial interrogation, SIT stated that “the marginally noted accused was required to unearth deep-rooted criminal conspiracy of theft of iron ore belonging to the State thereby causing loss to the State exchequer and obstacle for overall development of Goa and public in general.”
“As per the informant/witness and the investigation carried out so far, the accused also allegedly excavated and transported iron order from Paikul Valpoi in connivance with the influential politician and other individuals to Salgaonkar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd and others,” reads the submission to the court.
Charged with illegally extracting and transporting lakhs of metric tonnes of iron/mineral ore, Gaunder will also be asked to reveal the location of the ‘ledger books’ to facilitate ascertaining the exact amount of trading in iron ore. The interrogation is also crucial to recover the invoices, account books, correspondence, etc with respect to ‘Kartik Mineral’ that would help the agency ascertain the exact turnover of iron ore by him.
Gaunder’s arrest pertains to case number 15/2013 wherein former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has applied for anticipatory bail and his custodial interrogation has been sought by SIT. The case is considered to be the biggest and most exhaustive comprising 183 mining leases.
As per the investigation so far, Gaunder is alleged to be involved in the crime in connivance with others by damaging the environment and deriving ‘pecuniary advantage neglecting public interest and public health’. The Special Court has remanded him to seven days of custodial interrogation.
