Mining scam: Former Goa Chief Minister asked to appear before Special Investigation Team tomorrow

PANAJI: Former Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has been summoned to appear before the SIT tomorrow in connection with a Rs 35,000 crore mining scam. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already begun interrogating several officials over the scam.

Kamat, along with former Director of Mines and Geology Arvind Lolienkar, who was suspended for his alleged involvement in the scam, would be questioned by the SIT, a senior crime branch officer told PTI. Kamat, the then Chief Minister of the state, along with his predecessor Pratapsingh Rane, are named in the complaint filed by the state before the crime branch. The case is being investigated by the SIT.

Kamat has been accused of allowing millions of tones of iron ore, supposedly illegally extracted, to be exported out of the state during his tenure. So far, the SIT has questioned former Director of Mines and Geology Department J B Bhingui, a senior Mines Department officer Sham Sawant and Law Department officer Smita Chandwani in this case. The Union government-constituted Justice M B Shah Commission in its report had confirmed illegal mining in the state.