PANAJI: Former mines secretary Raajiv Yaduvanshi said in a statement before the special judicial magistrate, Mapusa, that former chief minister Digambar Kamat had instructed a mines department official to put up files for renewal of mining leases by "twisting/misinterpreting the law".
"Kamat had given instructions to A T D'Souza in my presence to put up files for proposing condonation of delay in filling the application for renewal of mining leases to different lease holders and their power of attorney holders and other files relating to mining leases by twisting/misinterpreting the law," Yaduvanshi stated.
Spilling the beans about what happened years ago, the witness said Kamat personally approved the files related to renewal of mining leases by different leaseholders following the applications made for condonation of delay.
The special investigation team (SIT) recorded Yaduvanshi's statement before the magistrate under Section 164 CrPC in the alleged Rs 35,000 crore illegal mining case.
"I did not recommend their approval (mining leases)," Yaduvanshi stated.
Yaduvanshi was posted in Goa during Kamat's tenure as chief minister from 2007 to 2012. He was serving an extended term in Goa
In 2009, as leader of opposition, Manohar Parrikar had alleged in the state assembly that Yaduvanshi "had specifically been kept in the state to ensure government cooperation for illegal mining".
After the SIT questioned Yaduvanshi in the case, the former state principal mines secretary turned witness for the crime branch in the case.
Yaduvanshi said that he was advised by the directors that the decision-making authority on the extension was the government. "I merely signed after the noting in order to enable to move the file to concerned minister," the former principal secretary said.
"I advised the then mines minister (Kamat), that it was inappropriate to grant extension to mining leases of Shantilal Kushaldas," Yaduvanshi said. "However, he said that it was within his power and most of the hearings were held in the office of Kamat. There were more than 40 mining cases for which condonation of delay was sought."
"Kamat had given instructions to A T D'Souza in my presence to put up files for proposing condonation of delay in filling the application for renewal of mining leases to different lease holders and their power of attorney holders and other files relating to mining leases by twisting/misinterpreting the law," Yaduvanshi stated.
Spilling the beans about what happened years ago, the witness said Kamat personally approved the files related to renewal of mining leases by different leaseholders following the applications made for condonation of delay.
The special investigation team (SIT) recorded Yaduvanshi's statement before the magistrate under Section 164 CrPC in the alleged Rs 35,000 crore illegal mining case.
"I did not recommend their approval (mining leases)," Yaduvanshi stated.
Yaduvanshi was posted in Goa during Kamat's tenure as chief minister from 2007 to 2012. He was serving an extended term in Goa
In 2009, as leader of opposition, Manohar Parrikar had alleged in the state assembly that Yaduvanshi "had specifically been kept in the state to ensure government cooperation for illegal mining".
After the SIT questioned Yaduvanshi in the case, the former state principal mines secretary turned witness for the crime branch in the case.
Yaduvanshi said that he was advised by the directors that the decision-making authority on the extension was the government. "I merely signed after the noting in order to enable to move the file to concerned minister," the former principal secretary said.
"I advised the then mines minister (Kamat), that it was inappropriate to grant extension to mining leases of Shantilal Kushaldas," Yaduvanshi said. "However, he said that it was within his power and most of the hearings were held in the office of Kamat. There were more than 40 mining cases for which condonation of delay was sought."
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