NT NETWORK
Panaji
Five years after filing the closure report in an alleged illegal ore transportation case in which an offence was registered against an ore trading firm Bagadiya Brothers and the mines department officials, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is set to reopen the case. The investigating agency has stumbled upon some new documents related to the case which requires further probe sources informed.
The Sessions Judge, Irshad Agha accorded permission to the SIT to reopen the case and conduct further investigation. The SIT had made application before the Court seeking permission to reopen the case after new documents came to fore in connection with the case.
Sources informed that new evidence which came to light in the case needs further probe related to source of iron ore procured, investigation for alleged violations under sections of MMDR act of firms which sold ore to Bagadiya brothers, alleged theft of iron ore and other alleged illegalities.
It may be recalled that in March 2014 the director of Mines Department in a complaint to the SIT had claimed that during the period from February 11, 2011 to October 21, 2011 accused persons directors/ representatives of Bagadiya Brothers and officers of Directorate of Mines and Geology hatched a criminal conspiracy by preparing forged documents and NOC to export iron ore of 40,765 MT without payment of royalty causing loss to the state exchequer to the tune of rupees Rs 59,67,324.
The final report (C-summary) was submitted to the court in June 2015 after the investigation agency’s probe ruled out any illegalities by the ore trading firm and mines department officials. Sources informed that the investigation was related only to NOC and that other aspects pertaining to alleged illegal mining were not probed into.
