Goa's ex-Director of Mines Arvind Lolienkar grilled by Enforcement Directorate

PANAJI: Goa's former Director of Mines Arvind Lolienkar was today grilled by Enforcement Directorate in connection with the multi-crore illegal mining scam.

Lolienkar was summoned to the ED office here and questioned for more than two hours, during which his statement was recorded, sources in the central agency said.

This is the first statement recorded by the ED, a specialised financial investigation agency in connection with the case.

The agency, which is probing money laundering aspect of the scam, has issued summonses to 16 companies allegedly involved in iron ore exports from the state.

Lolienkar has been accused of allowing exports of illegally mined iron ore during his tenure as Director of Mines and Geology department.

The ED has registered cases under Prevention of Money Laundering Act against all the companies and Lolienkar. The agency has asked the companies to furnish details of the business operations and their financial transactions over the last few years.

ED in June this year registered a complaint under the Act after taking cognisance of the reports of the MB Shah Commission, the inquiry boards constituted in this regard, and also an FIR filed by Goa Police's Crime Branch in August 2013.