The Directorate of Enforcement, Goa registered an Enforcement Case Investigation Report (ECIR) on Monday under Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 in respect of the illegal mining case in Goa and commenced investigation in the illegal mining scam under the provisions of PML Act, 2002.
A senior official of the Directorate of Enforcement in Panaji told The Hindu on Tuesday that the case has been registered against official of the State Mining Department including ex-Director, a draftsman and others in respect of the scheduled offences of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 in Rs. 35,000-crore illegal mining case against government officials, mining companies and entities identified and mentioned in the report of Central Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court, Justice M.B.Shah Commission report and report of the Public Accounts Committee of Goa.
The CEC appointed by the Supreme Court in its report had observed that in there was no system of periodic verification of the iron ore produced in the mining leases, payment of royalty after verification, issue of transit permits by the forest department, issue of permits by the State Mining department for transportation, etc., in Goa and hence illegal mining took place outside the mining leased area and the same was conveniently shown to have been done legally in the leased area.
A number of environmental clearances for the status of the land was mentioned as non-forest whereas the leased area comprised partly/wholly of forest land.
All the above facts are of serious nature having financial implications and loss to the exchequer in crores of rupees.
The manufacture and fabrication of documents and using such documents for fraudulent purpose by active support of the government officials has caused a huge loss to the state exchequer, the complaint had noted.
Mr. Pravin Pawar, Joint Director, Enforcement said on Tuesday that the documents and other related records are being collected from various agencies and its examination is under way.
Summons will be issued shortly to various government officials, mining company directors and to those involved in the process of illegal mining activities, he said.
