TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: While investigation into multi crore mining scam has been put on fast track with special investigation team (SIT) to soon file chargesheets in two more cases, it has challenged conditional bail granted to accused facing various charges.
“We have contested bail granted to all the accused in different cases of mining-related offenses, before higher court. Each of these applications is heard on different dates,” superintendent of SIT Vijay Singh informed.
Former mines director Arvind Lolienkar, Gujarati trader Subroto Barik of Frost International Pvt Ltd, directors of Magnum Minerals Prashant Sahoo and Ravindra Prakash, suspended draftsman of mines department Robert Gonsalves – also an accused in a murder case, Directors Seagull Ore Carriers Pvt Ltd Remington Antao and Mohammed Usman Sheikh are among those who are out on bail.
Former chief minister and mines minister Digambar Kamat, retired mines director J B Bhingui, technical assistant Shyam Sawant, retired senior geologist of mines department Hectar Fernandes and owner of Kadnekar mines Premanand Kadnekar are some of the many grilled by SIT sleuths so far.
The SIT, probing 16 cases of illegal mining, has till date charge sheet one case against Frost International Pvt Ltd before a special court under the Prevention of Corruption Act whereas chargesheet against Seagull Ore Carriers Pvt Ltd and Magnum Minerals is expected to be filed shortly.
The details of extraction, storage and trade till September 2012 – when mining operations were shut, information regarding production, export, purchase of ore, domestic sale, iron ore storage, opening and closing stock, clearances from Ministry of Environment and Forest, Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) among others are already in the SIT custody.
