Team Herald
PANJIM: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sanguem illegal mining case has decided to drop former minister Joaquim Alemao’s name from the indictment.
The sleuths will, however, press charges against the successors of Salgaocar Mining Industries – Sameer and Arjun Salgaocar – for carrying out rampant illegal mining. The duo was arrested and released on Wednesday nearly six months after the local court had granted them anticipatory bail.
Sources said the brothers will be charged under various sections of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and Forest Conservation Act, 1980 in the chargehseet, expected to be filed before the Prevention of Corruption Act this week.
According to senior police officers, the raising contractor at S Kantilal & Co Pvt Ltd was not aware of the illegality. “He was oblivious that the company did not have permissions to carry out mining or to excavate ore. He dealt with only transportation and the sale of extracted ore. However, the ore remained lying at the site,” the officer said.
Then Chairman and Managing Director of Salgaocar Mining Industries, Anil Salgaocar’s name might also not figure in the list of accused, as he died during investigations.
SIT in September 2014 had registered a criminal offence based on a complaint filed by Mines Director Prasanna Acharya.
accusing Kantilal and Co Ltd of carrying out mining and ore extraction without requisite permissions.
