the goan I network
PANAJI
Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Saturday withdrew his application seeking anticipatory bail before the Special Court in the main mining case.
Kamat withdrew his application following an assurance from the Special Investigation Team (Mining) of Goa Police that a 48-hour notice would be served to him prior to an arrest in the case.
The Court had granted Kamat an interim relief earlier this year pending the disposal of his plea.
According to the report of the Justice (retd) M B Shah Commission, illegal mining had taken place in Goa between 2005 and 2012 causing a loss to the tune of Rs 35,000 crore to the state exchequer. Kamat was the Chief Minister of Goa from 2007 to 2012.
The Mines Department had lodged a complaint with the crime branch on July 26, 2013. Following this, on August 19, 2013, the crime branch registered the FIR against all those listed in the reports submitted by the Shah Commission, the Public Accounts Committee and the Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee.
The SIT was instituted in the last week of August 2013.
Along with the then mines director and Digambar Kamat, who held the mines portfolio for over a decade, other accused in the case include Shobhana Rivonkar, Baban Gaonkar and Robert Gonsalves.
The accused were booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for conspiracy, mines and minerals development rules, Goa Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation, Storage of Minerals) Rules, 2004, mineral conservation and development rules and Prevention of Corruption Act.
