PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has quashed a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Special Investigation Team (Mining) against seven mining companies over alleged illegal mining, holding that the case could not survive after the Supreme Court set aside the very order that led to its registration.
The FIR was among around 150 cases registered by the SIT (Mining) in 2013 pursuant to a High Court direction ordering criminal investigations against individuals and mining entities named in the Justice M B Shah Commission Report.
The Shah Commission had alleged large-scale illegal mining in Goa and estimated that the State exchequer had suffered losses of nearly Rs 35,000 crore due to illegal extraction and export of iron ore.
However, the Supreme Court subsequently quashed the High Court's order directing registration of the FIRs.
In view of the apex court's ruling, the High Court has now set aside the FIR on a criminal application filed by Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd, Salitho Ores Pvt Ltd, Marzook and Cadar Private Limited, Shantilal Kushaldas and Bros Pvt Ltd, S Kantilal and Company Pvt Ltd, M/s Sova, and M/s Mineria Nacional Limitada.
