MARGAO
The South Goa Additional Judge appointed to hear the cases on Tuesday discharged former Chief Minister and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and two other accused in the mining case.
Reacting to the court order, the Leader of the Opposition said “God is great”.
The Special Investigating Team (SIT) had filed a chargesheet against Prafulla Hede, Digambar Kamat and government official A T D’Souza for allegedly showing undue favour to Prafulla Hede by condoning the delay of the renewal of mining lease without having any authority and in contravention of the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Act.
In the chargesheet, the SIT maintained that the State government had the power to condone the delay applications filed by the lessee for the first renewal period from the year 1994-2000. Thereafter, since the year 2000, the SIT maintained that law was amended and the government enjoyed no powers to condone the delay application for first renewal application filed by the lessee.
In support of the allegation, the SIT quoted a statement made by a Mines official stating that the government does not have the powers to condone the delay in filing the first renewal application, further stating that the condonation of delay in filing renewal of application in respect of mines lease is in contravention of Mines Act 1957.
The former Chief Minister had moved an application before the Special Judge constituted to hear the mining cases, stating that the SIT has not made out any case before the court to frame charges against him. Hence, he and the other two accused had sought discharge in the case, which has been granted by the court on Tuesday.
