Panaji (Goa): The district & sessions court, North Goa has questioned into delay action by the Goa police against the influential mining businessman Imran Khan. The court has admitted that evidences submitted before it indicates his involvement in the rampant illegal mining case.

“Investigation has been delayed by the respondents. Although it is found that the applicant (Khan) s also involved in some activities, CEC eport came in the year 2012 and we are in the year 2017 and till date no action was taken by the respondents to determine the lease,” the judge stated.

Justice Shah Commission report that exposed massive illegalities and irregularities in the mining sector followed by findings of Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee had accused Khan among others for his involvement in the criminal theft of iron ore and cheating the State to the tune of several crores of rupees.

Over a dozen complaints were filed by the Mines department with the SIT in 2012, of which three cases are remaining to be chargesheeted, one of which includes the case against Khan, politicians, bureaucrats and others.

Based on the submissions produced during Khan’s bail hearing, the court observed that in the present case there are some bases for the respondents to arrest Khan because there are number of documents showing that he was involved in the mining activities. The alleged offenses were committed for the period from 2007 to 2012, during the tenure of the then Chief Minister Digambar Kamat who also faces probed by the SIT.

Maria has already deposed before the SIT claiming innocence and accusing Khan of misleading the family that the lease, to which she is the legal heir, was not of use for mining purpose but only for agricultural use.