TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Former chief minister Digamber Kamat and mines minister for 12 years is amongst the six government functionaries, who have been summoned by the special investigation team (SIT) which is probing the Rs 35,000 crore illegal mining scam on Monday. Kamat is been called for questioning on February 8.
The mines and geology directorate has filed a case before the crime branch based on the Justice M B Shah Commission, public accounts committee and Supreme Court’s central empowered committee report, which was later transferred to SIT. There are total nine cases presently being investigated by SIT.
Kamat, who was named in the Shah Commission report for allowing and shielding illegalities in the mining sector between 2007-2011, is one of the first politician to be summoned by the investigating agency. The commission has also named former chief minister and present leader of opposition Pratapsing Rane in the exhaustive report on illegal mining in Goa.
Deputy inspector general K K Vyas told Herald that Kamat and five other senior officials have been summoned for questioning.
Present under secretary (legal) S Chandwani, former law secretary V P Shetye, former directors-J B Bhingui (2005-2007) and Arvind Lolienkar (2007-2012) and mines official Shyam Sawant. Lolienkar were suspended by the BJP-government soon after coming to power.
Both Sawant and Bhingui are been called for questioning on Tuesday while Chandwani is being summoned for February 5. Along with Kamat, Shetye and Lolienkar would be questioned on February 8.
Questioning would begin from 3 pm at the crime branch office in Dona Paula.
Vyas said that more summons would be issued in due course of time. A senior official said that more summons would be issued on February 5 and 7 when mines official Hector Fernandes and D’Souza would be heard. “We are currently verifying the address of D’Souza. Once traceable, summons would be issued to him,” official said.
SIT had in December issued summons to six traders related to illegal mining case.
The crime branch had earlier registered FIRs under sections 120-B, 166, 277, 278, 290, 379, 409, 418, 402, 430, 465, 468 and 479 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 13(1)(d), 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, Mines and Mineral Development Act, Mineral Concession Rule and Storage of Mineral Rules 2004 against those suspected to be involved as mentioned in the complaint letters.
