SP says accounts were to confuse investigators
the goan I network
PANAJI
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged illegal mining scam has now discovered that accused Imran Khan opened a total of 567 bank accounts at two separate branches of the same bank in South Goa.
Speaking to The Goan, Superintendent of Police (Crime) Karthik Kashyap informed that a total of 530 fixed deposit accounts, six savings bank accounts, eight current accounts and 23 loan accounts were opened by Khan at the Fatorda and Margao branches of Bank of India over the past 10 years.
"Some accounts were in his name, some in his brother's name or a family member's name. A few accounts have also been set up under the name of his sister concern companies. We are probing all the transactions. SIT had summoned the bank officials and they have already been questioned," SP Kashyap stated. While the SP refused to comment, sources from SIT disclosed that the police suspect that the main intention of Khan behind operating close to 600 bank accounts was to throw the investigating agencies off the track, if he ever came under the scanner.
Khan, who has secured bail since his arrest by the SIT for allegedly extracting more than eight lakh metric tonnes ore amounting to Rs 320 crore at the Curpem mine, allegedly paid commission to the unknown politician for each metric tone.
According to the SIT probe, the decisions pertaining to Khan's mine sprung from a criminal conspiracy involving Khan and the mines minister of 2008-12 and the theft of iron ore from the lease located at TC 65/51. Favourable orders were issued by the department by flouting all the laid down procedures and the mines department had approved the transfer of the mining lease located at Curpem in Sanguem taluka to Khan through POA in violation of the law.
At the time of transfer through POA, the mining lease was in dispute among heirs of the deceased lease holder. Despite the pending dispute, one heir transferred the lease to Khan through POA with Kamat approving the transfer, sources revealed.
However, Figueiredo has deposed before the SIT that Khan did not inform her of his intentions to carry out mining at her lease and that she was not aware that he had secured her signature on the
POA, hinting that he did so fraudulently.
