PANJIM: Former Congress MLA Jitendra Deshprabhu, suspended mines director Arvind Lolienkar and retired senior geologist Hector Fernandes are certain to face arrest in the Korgao illegal mining case, subject to Supreme Court’s verdict on their anticipatory bail applications.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is set to take the trio into custody provided their applications seeking relief are turned down. The apex court, which is hearing the matter for the last few months, has slated the next hearing on September 9.
Deputy Inspector General of Police K K Vyas told Herald that ongoing investigations into the illegal extraction of ore at Korgao has fixed the liability on the three individuals, which calls for their arrest. “Their arrest is required but our moves will depend on the outcome of the SC verdict,” he said.
The SIT, formed in August 2013 had nearly initiated steps to arrest the alleged accused but had to back off when the politician and the former mines officials filed for anticipatory bail.
Over four years ago in April 2011, Crime Branch – that was earlier investigating illegal mining cases – had arrested Deshprabhu for allegedly illegally extracting iron ore from his property at Korgao, Pernem. The Mines and Geology Department also confirmed the offence and slapped a fine of Rs 1.7-crore on him.
Mines Department, in a subsequent inquiry discovered that ore extraction at the open plot continued without any authorization prompting Mines Director Prasanna Acharya to lodge a complaint with the SIT.
Besides identifying the three alleged accused, the fresh FIR also charged the then investigating officer in the Korgao case – deputy superintendent of police Chandrakant Salgaonkar – with criminally conspiring with the former to carry out the illegal trade.
It was at this stage that Deshprabhu, Lolienkar and Fernandes moved the local court seeking anticipatory bail, which was rejected and upheld by the High Court. They then knocked the doors of the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the order.
Meanwhile, in relief to DySP Salgaonkar, SIT has hitherto not established a criminal offence against him; however, he is likely to face charges of negligence.
DIG Vyas further informed that while investigation in both cases is underway, the SIT will shortly file a chargesheet in the first case against Deshprabhu. This would the sixth chargesheet in the illegal mining investigations.
