Superintendent of Police Kartik Kashyap informed that as a technical head, he was involved in the inspection of several sites in Goa where illegal extraction of iron ore in lakhs of metric tons was carried out, but despite encountering the criminal offense he failed to nail the concerned for theft of iron ore. 

 

“By not informing the Mines department or the police about the theft of iron ore during his inspection period, he facilitated the perpetrators in wrongful gain in crores of rupees and loss to the state exchequer. The unlawful act and omissions on the part of public servant  cannot be done without monetary benefits,” he told reporters after the arrest late last evening.

 

Shetgaonkar was dealing with Amalia Figueiredo lease file wherein by virtue of Power of Attorney, Imran Khan and brothers operated mine illegally as proxy to former Mines  minister in the Government of Goa. This is the same case wherein Khan illegally extracted tons of ore from the property belonging to Figueiredo family, by misleading them that the land was being used for agricultural purpose.

 

The mines officer is also charged with failing to initiate legal action and allowed Khan and others to operate mine illegally.

 

“Shetgaonkar while dealing with one more lease file allowed individual Rajesh Timblo to pay Government dues prior  to transfer of lease in his name. Investigation suggests wrong notings on files by Shetgaonkar for compounding of offence as well as assessment of fines in complete violation of law thereby facilitating perpetrators to get away with legal criminal action involved in illegal mining in Goa causing loss to the state exchequer and damage to environment,” the police officer further said.

 

The accused will be produced before a local court today for remand following which he will undergo custodial interrogation.  

Team TNV