Panaji (Goa): In a major relief, special court today granted  interim anticipatory bail to former chief minister Digambar Kamat who is facing investigation by Crime Branch’s Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Judge Irshad Agha while granting interim anticipatory bail fixed the next hearing of the case on November 27. Kamat has been summoned by Crime branch to appear before them tomorrow, November 21.

The court which heard the petition for anticipatory bail today granted relief to Kamat till November 27 ordering that “in case of his arrest by the SIT, he should be bailed out on a personal bond of Rs one lakh and surety in like amount.”

Advocate Sivan Desai representing Kamat told reporters that the Crime branch did not furnish their reply before the Court during the hearing today. He said that the court was also informed about the attempts to arrest Kamat on Saturday night by the SIT even as the anticipatory bail was pending before the Court.

Public Prosecutor G Kirtani representing the state submitted that there were no attempts to arrest Kamat by the SIT.

Kamat is being investigated by SIT in connection with the case filed in September 2014  against mine owner Prafulla Hede for condonation of delay in mining lease located at Collem in South Goa. 

Justice M B Shah Commission, which had investigated the mining scam, had observed that several mining companies were allowed to fraudulently use the clause of condonation of delay for renewal of their leases. 

Apart from Hede, offence was also registered against public servants and government officials. 

The SIT had questioned several government officials, including former Goa principal mines secretary Rajiv Yaduvanshi, in connection with the case.