Panaji (Goa): As probe into the main mining scam investigation is taking new turns every day, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) (Mines) visited the Vaghus Pale dump site, about five months after it conducted its first survey. 
SP Kartik Kashyap told reporters that the dump site’s survey is a part of the main mining case’s investigation wherein more than 60 lakhs metric ton of iron ore amounting to more than thousand crores ore were found to be handled / transported /exported by accused mine trader Philip Jacob and others. 
SIT revealed that transactions in bank accounts of Jacob are of more than 400 crores and connivance of mine owner and others cannot be ruled out. 
“Large stock in lakhs of metric tons of unaccounted iron ore also found stacked at site. Survey will continue for more three days to find out exact handling/ export  of iron ore from this site for the period 2006 to 2012,” Kashyap said. 
The SIT officials, accompanied by officers of the directorate of mines and geology had in mid-this year visited the site following a disclosure by Jacob who was arrested on charges of purchasing more than 10 lakhs metric tons of iron ore worth over Rs 300 crore.
So far investigation has revealed names of the mine owners involved who had received over Rs 100 crore from Jacob via bank transfers and cash payments. 
These mine owners dumped iron ore from different leases at the site, and in connivance with some mines officials, illegally exported it without paying royalty. 
Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and many other high profile persons are being investigation for the offense.

Team TNV