Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Shantaram Naik has sought to defend former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who is being probed by the Special Investigation Team (Mining) of Goa Police for condoning the delay in renewal of mining lease of former state coordinator of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Prafulla Hede.
PANAJI:
Speaking on the sidelines of birth centenary celebrations of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, GPCC president Naik said, "Condonation of delay in renewal of mining leases per se does not amount to crime. If that was so, all the Collectors, mamlatdars and judges who condone delay in many matters, will also go to jail."
Naik further stated that condonation of delay is a "quasi-judicial act". "If somebody is aggrieved by such condonation of delay, remedy lies in appealing against the decision," he said.
