Team Herald
PANJIM: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has completed its probe into the alleged illegal condonation of mining lease delay and a charge sheet against former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and mine owner Prafulla Hede is likely to be filed on Thursday.
While details of the charge sheet have been kept under wraps, SP Kartik Kashyap confirmed to Herald that the SIT (Mines) will file a charge sheet before the local court on Thursday.
Hede, facing a probe for illegal condonation of the mining lease at Collem had claimed that condonation in renewal of the license was granted by the Centre before the amendment to the Minerals Concession Rules that gave powers to the State Government.
On September 19, 2014, a first information report (FIR) against Hede and others was registered following a complaint filed by Mines & Geology Director Prasanna Acharya. The officer had alleged that between 1988 and 2007, mining operations were carried out in TC (title of concession) no 30/1950 through the illegal condonation of delay given by a public servant/government official during that period, which was in violation of Section 19 of the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The complainant also mentioned that the mine operated illegally in violation of Section 4(1) (1-A) of the Act that caused loss to the government exchequer and illegal gains to mine operators
Hede, last month, had clarified that he had never approached the State government for renewal of the mining lease and that it was granted by the Centre. He also hinted that he was made a scapegoat in the tussle between two (political) parties.
SIT countered his contention arguing that the file for condonation of delay suddenly surfaced in 2005, which was granted in 2007 when Kamat was the CM.
