SIT attaches files from mines department

PANAJI: The Special Investigation team (SIT) on Friday attached several files pertaining to 12 illegal extractions in private lands from the directorate of mines and geology. Assistant geologist Ramnath Shetgaonkar who was arrested on Wednesday, was brought to the directorate while the files were being attached, said a SIT official.

Police said that Shetgaonkar as technical head was involved in the inspection of several mining sites, and is suspected that he facilitated illegalities in mining. Shetgaonkar, police added, failed to alert higher-ups about theft of iron ore by some individuals and firms.

An application moved by Shetgaonkar seeking bail is likely to come up for hearing before the district sessions court on Monday, the day his five-day police custody ends.

The SIT which is probing the multi-crore mining scam in the state also quizzed Rajiv Yaduvanshi, who was principal secretary mines between 2007 and 2012. Yaduvanshi was quizzed for about four hours and his questioning would continue on Saturday as well, an official said. The police official investigating the alleged the role of Yaduvanshi in the mining scam refused to reveal progress made by them.