VIBHA VERMA
vibha@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The arrest of influential businessman Imran Khan, by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Crime Branch, has once again put the focus on influential politicians of the ruling regime when the Congress was in power between 2007 and 2012.
The SIT which argued against the granting of bail to Imran Khan stated that “there was a deep rooted conspiracy of theft (of iron ore) in connivance with influential politicians”. It is obvious from these inferences in a court argument, that the then Mines Minister who was the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, is on the radar of investigation and inquiry
This is not withstanding Kamat’s vehement denial of any involvement with Khan. In a statement released by his office, the former Chief Minister emphasized that he has nothing whatsoever to do with Khan and further pointed out that in any case, it appears that the charge against Khan was that he had forged the
Environmental Clearance, which Environmental Clearance is granted by the Ministry of Environment & Forests and as such, it was a matter between Khan and the MoEF and therefore it is abundantly clear his name was being dragged for no plausible reason whatsoever. (Please see detailed statement in a box)
The lengthy investigation comprising 182 mining leases, that saw four arrests of Jacob Philip, Kancha Gaunder, Gitesh Naik and Imran Khan this year, will also fuel trouble for officials from the Directorate of Mines & Geology on grounds of participating in the conspiracy.
Khan was arrested on Tuesday on charges of having caused a loss of several crores of rupees to the State exchequer, through illegal activity carried out during the term of the then Congress-led government from 2007 to 2012.
It has come to the fore that Khan would allegedly extort around Rs 275 per ore-laden truck during the mining operations, with SIT gathering evidence on this as well.
Absence of purchase vouchers, bank transactions against the purchases of ore from the Quepem property and several discrepancies found during the probe point fingers at Khan, who was allegedly allowed to operate without any bureaucratic hassles.
“The property (the site of the mining lease) originally belongs to one Figueiredo family and Khan, in 2006 availed power of attorney from Amylia Figueiredo. Two years later she passed away and Khan managed the process through another family member Georgina, and subsequently Maria, who is now aged 92 years. He initially extracted ore from the property even though decision on whether he should be given the rights was only taken in the year 2008-09. During this period he even filed mining returns in his name. All this was in violation of Section 37 and section 4 of the MMDR Act. This illegality was allowed to happen with the mines department remaining a mute spectator”, said a source in the SIT
From 2007-11, Khan is said to have extracted at least 2 lakh tonnes ore from the property at Kurpe-Quepem every year, generating crores of money. Sources said that during questioning, Khan told SIT that he would purchase ore from the lease holder but failed to produce documents to substantiate his claims.
“As of now, SIT has not come across any money transaction. All official correspondence and inspection reports like filing of mining returns, seeking permissions and clearances, etc were in his name. There was also Environment Clearance report in his name but after objections raised by certain sections, there was a corrigendum issued. All these evidences prove that despite not holding the ownership, he operated the mining trade under his title,” said the source.
It is learnt that some stakeholders who were interested in the plot had lodged complaints against Khan but then government paid no heed. Subsequently, some stakeholders withdrew their complaints.
The entire scam was nearly exposed by then Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar in the Legislative Assembly following which CAG and Justice Shah Commission reports too confirmed the massive illegality.
With the fourth arrest in the case, SIT is also probing into protests in Quepem which were reportedly backed by influential politicians including the local MLA. As such, the two Congress leaders are expected to face summon notices for appearance before the sleuths.
Declining to comment on the ongoing investigation, CB SP Kartik Kashyap told Herald, “Source of the ore is not yet clear as invoice vouchers and banking transactions do not reflect anything in this regard with the Figueiredo’s.”
Meanwhile, sources said the Figueiredo family is being quizzed in the case to get clarity about the sale/source of ore, activity on the property, etc. While the process is underway, the SIT is likely to interrogate present and former Mines officials concerned with the matter, some of whom cold face serious actions for active connivance with the perpetrators of illegal activity.
The present criminal case number 15/2013 pertains to Justice M B Shah Commission’s report on illegal mining from 2007-2011. It comprises 182 mining leases.
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Police get custody of Khan for two days
Team Herald
PANJIM: The North Goa District and Sessions Court remanded mining trader Imran Khan to two days in police custody. Khan was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Crime Branch on Tuesday for cheating the State of crores of rupees through illegal extraction of iron ore.
Arguments in the bail application filed by Khan will continue on Thursday. Opposing Khan’s bail application, SIT stated that the government chose to ignore the forgery made by Khan in the mining lease in TC no 65/51 belonging to Amylia Figueiredo and he was allowed to extract iron ore by a partnership firm named Imran Traders.
They further submitted that the investigation reveals that from 2008 to 2011, there was a large difference between production despatched under permitted quantum and the actual.
“This could not have happened without the connivance of the State government, Director of Mines, IBM who have not taken action even after findings of illegalities during the inspection of the said TC 65/51,” SIT informed the court.
SIT submitted that Khan has not co-operated with the investigating agency and is not divulging his other associates in the theft of iron ore and also the disposal of the cash withdrawn from the different banks amounting to crores of rupees.
SIT informed the court that witnesses have been traced who were privy to the commission of offence of theft and they are willing to disclose the facts before the investigating agency but if Khan is granted bail than there is the possibility he will induce the witnesses which will hamper the investigation.
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Digambar denies links to mining trader
Team Herald
MARGAO: Congress leader and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has rubbished reports that linked him to mining trader Imran Khan, who was arrested by the Special Investigating Team (SIT) on Wednesday.
In a statement issued here, Kamat clarified that Khan was neither his ‘aide’ nor ‘proxy’ and said he had absolutely no connection whatsoever with the accused.
He chastised SIT for selectively leaking information to the Press, in respect of the investigation, which is underway.
Kamat said such leakage of information by SIT, apart from creating adverse public opinion against him, was clearly aimed at prejudicing him and his interests, particularly when his application for anticipatory bail is fixed on September 18, before the Special Judge, at Panjim.
Emphasising innocence in the case, Kamat said Khan had forged the environmental clearance and thus the matter was between Khan and the Ministry of Environment & Forests and his name was being dragged for no reason.
