Directors of Seagull Ore Carriers Pvt Ltd, Regmington Antao and Mohammed Usman Sheikh and raising contractor of Kadnekar Mines Prashant Sahoo – who were arrested during the course of investigation and subsequently released on bail – will face charge sheets with SIT saying that investigations in all cases will be fast tracked.
“The two cases are on the verge of finalization…they will be charge sheeted shortly,” Superintendent of SIT Vijay Singh told Herald.
In May, the SIT had charge sheeted one case of illegal mining against Frost International Ltd which involves suspended mines director Arvind Lolienkar for conniving with others to export 1.35 million metric tons of ore to China on fake NOCs. The illegality resulted in Rs 1.17 crore loss to the State treasury.
Antao and Sheikh, booked under Sections 465 (forgery), 471 (producing forged documents) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code are charged with forging documents of mines department to obtain loan from a nationalized bank.
As per the investigation, the bank audit of Seagull Ore Carriers Pvt Ltd found that the directors had submitted forged documents showing stock of around 80,000 tons of iron ore at different jetties, in order to obtain a loan. The Directorate of Mines on verifying the papers found the NOC dated October 4, 2012, was not issued by them to the loanee following which a case was registered. Some 10 to 12 witnesses have been questioned in the case, investigated by PI Rahul Parab.
Sahoo, a raising contractor at Kadnekar mines will be the next to face trial before the special court. Originally from Nagpur, Sahoo was arrested from his Dona Paula home for transporting sub-standard ore without the knowledge of the owner of Kadnekar mine in Quepem and impersonating a Government of India officer.
“He had impersonated a Union Revenue Secretary to direct a raid on Kadnekar mines. He had also sent a text message to an Income Tax officer about this move… On tracing the mobile number, the IT department found the number belongs to Sahoo. A case was thereafter registered against him,” an officer said, adding Sahoo also had the power of attorney for Magnum Minerals Pvt Ltd.
