the goan I network
MARGAO
The Special Investigating Team (SIT) probing the mining scam on Thursday morning conducted a raid on the office of trader Imran Khan and are believed to have laid hands on documents pertaining to the sale of iron ore, procurement of properties worth crores of rupees.
The raid continued for a marathon seven and half hour at the office located on the fifth floor of the building at Fatorda, as the sleuths scanned for records and other documents.
The raid on Imran's office comes a day after the SIT sleuths made their presence felt at the house of Maria Figueiredo at Loutolim and against the backdrop of reports that the power of attorneys relating to some mines had lapsed. "The purpose behind the raid at Imran's office was to lay hand on documents and find out whether Imran traders were involved in mining at Curpem, Sanguem belonging to lease holder late Amalia Figueiredo. Our interrogation of Maria Figueiredo has revealed that the three power of attorneys relating to the mines had lapsed," a SIT sleuth said.
Replying to a question, the sleuth pointed out that they are trying to find out how iron ore was sold if the trader claims that they have not mined, but only sold iron ore. "We are trying to find out where did the iron ore came if the trader claimed that he was not involved in mining" the officer added.
Sources said, in today's raid no purchase invoice was found during the search nor did the trader produce the same. Only sale documents were found in the office, sources added.
A SIT sleuth pointed out that documents seized in the operation suggested that properties worth crores of rupees were procured ruing the period 2007-13. The officer further suggested that documents further suggests sale of iron ore during the financial year, April 2012-2013 to the tune of more than Rs 20 crore. "We are investigating into the fixed deposits amounting to crores of rupees," the officer added.
