Panaji: Ex-Chief Minister Digambar Kamat today did not remain present before Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the crime branch which had issued him summons in connection with illegal mining scam.
Kamat who was supposed to appear before the SIT this morning did not turn up and instead has asked for another date to appear before the inquiry officer.
“I am out of station. I had informed the crime branch that I will not be available for the inquiry today. The crime branch has been asked to give me another date,” the former CM said.
Kamat is expected to return to Goa on Thursday after which he will be available for the inquiry.
This was the second summon issued to Kamat in connection with the illegal mining case. He was first questioned by the SIT in February 2014.According to a senior crime branch official, Goa Mines and Geology Department’s former director Arvind Lolienkar has also been summoned along with Kamat.
Lolienkar was arrested by the SIT in connection with the case in March 2014. He is currently out on bail.
A report of Justice (retd) M B Shah Commission had earlier stated that illegal mining to the tune of Rs 35,000 crore took place in Goa from 2005 to 2012, when the Supreme Court banned iron ore extraction in the state.
A complaint was filed by the Mines and Geology Department in July 2013 seeking to fix criminal liability on those involved in the illegal mining as pointed out by various committees, including the Centre-appointed Shah Commission.
The crime branch then registered an FIR in August 2013 against those named in various reports (Shah Commission and other committees) including Kamat, Lolienkar and some other officials of the department, mining firms and others.
The FIR was registered under various sections of the IPC, including 120 (b) (conspiracy), 166 (public servant disobeying law), relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, Mines and Minerals Development Act, Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, Goa Prevention of Illegal Mining Transportation and Storage of Minerals Rules 2004.
Based on the complaint, the SIT was formed by the then BJP government to probe the case.
An apex court appointed Central Empowered Committee and State Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee had also confirmed illegal mining in Goa.
Team TNV
