Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a major relief to ex Chief Minister and BJP MLA Digambar Kamat, the lower court today discharged him from the case pertaining to illegal mining.
The Panaji District and Sessions Court discharged Kamat and 16 others from the cases wherein they were accused of condonation of delay in renewing a mining lease that caused a loss to the state exchequer.
The Special Investigating Team (SIT) had in 2018 filed a charge sheet against former chief minister and 16 other including mine owner Ravindra Prakash for condonation of delay in renewing a mining leases during the period from 2007-2012, when Kamat was at the helms of affairs.
The SIT had filed a case in September 2014 against Kamat and others under section 19 of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act. The FIR was registered on a complaint by the state’s Mines and Geology Department.
The chargesheet also states that the illegal condonation of delay caused a loss of Rs. 135 crore to the state exchequer.
Kamat is also facing another chargesheet in a similar case and the matter is currently being heard by the court.
The cases were filed based on Justice MB Shah Commission report of inquiry that exposed Rs 35,000 crore illegal mining scam in Goa during 2007-2012. Shah in its report had named Kamat as the main accused.
