The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) does not require sanction from the State government to investigate cases pertaining to illegally extracted ore in Karnataka which was shipped through Goa, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar indicated here on Wednesday.
Responding to The Hindu’s query on whether his government had given sanction to the request made by the CBI, probing the trail of illegal mining from Karnataka being exported from Goa’s ports, Mr. Parrikar said, “We will offer to provide complete assistance in the investigation.”
The CBI, Bangalore had written to the Goa government a few months back saying it was inquiring into transportation of ore from Karnataka through Goa’s ports to China. It had requested the State to share information, including ore export documents as part of their inquiry.
“They are probing illegal mining as per the Karnataka High Court directions; let them proceed and investigate. Nobody has stopped them. But I have not given illegal mining cases to them for probe, so the question of giving sanction under Section 6-A does not arise,” the Chief Minister said.
Significantly, the Supreme Court had declared Section 6-A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act unconstitutional, under which CBI needed government sanction for investigating officers at the level of joint secretary and above.
Mr. Parrikar, however, said that should the Central Government instruct him, he would sanction the probe. “The Goa government never had any say regarding CBI investigation into the illegal mining in Karnataka. The State is willing to provide all help that is required,” he reiterated.
The CBI can now get in touch with the MPT and State Captain of Ports, from where it is suspected that illegal ore was exported.
In the light of references to Goa in the Karnataka Lokayukta report on illegal mining, Goa Right To Information (RTI) activist Sudip Tamhankar had filed four cases of illegal mining with the CBI in Goa, based on references in the Justice M. B. Shah Commission report that ore was illegally being extracted in neighbouring Karnataka, and exported through Goa’s MPT.
Mr. Tamhankar on Wednesday expressed surprise that Goa government was unwilling to sanction the CBI probe of the role of Goa’s Transport Department officials in aiding the transhipment of ore to Goa ports.
