A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Goa Police investigating the mining scam in Goa chargesheeted former Chief Minister and Congress MLA Digambar Kamat and two others on Thursday for condoning the delay in renewal of a mining lease in South Goa.
The 1,572-page chargesheet has booked Mr. Kamat, leaseholder Prafulla Hede, and Goa Mines and Geology Department official A.T. D’Souza under sections of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code, said Superintendent of Police Karthik Kashyap, who heads the SIT. The chargesheet was filed before the Principal District and Sessions Court in South Goa. Mr. Kashyap said it mentions 40 witnesses.
Mr. Kamat, who held the Mines portfolio from 2007 to 2012, is accused of allowing mining companies, including the one operated by Mr. Hede, to avail the ‘condonation of delay’ clause to renew their iron ore mining leases in return for bribes. The SIT has also questioned Mr. Kamat’s son Yogiraj and brother in-law Satish Lawande in the case. Rajiv Yaduvanshi, the then Principal Secretary (Mines), has turned approver.
