Panaji (Goa) The ongoing investigation in the mining scam has opened up fresh trouble for influential mine businessman Imran Khan. The original lease holder of the Portuguese-era property from where he extracted and transported ore, has told the special investigation team that her family was misguided over the use of land. 87-year-old Maria Figueiredo deposed saying Khan and his brother in fact told them to hand over the mining lease area for agricultural purpose.
She informed that one Muslim family -while referring to mine trader Khan – approached the family somewhere in year 2005-06 and took power of attorney with regards to the mining lease area from Maria’s elder sister Georgina , who later died in 2008 year. “Upon death of my sister, one person who introduced himself as Imran Khan approached me alone with his brother at my house at Loutolim and compelled me to sign some documents on the said mining lease area in 2007-08. I do not remember the exact date and year. He told me there is no ore at the are. However he would pay me monthly/quarterly in cash and through through bank transaction towards handing it over for agricultural purpose,” she said in her deposition before the investigation sleuths. She said that to best of her knowledge the area was not in working condition for over two decades.
