Panaji: A decade old, Rs 35,000 crore illegal mining case that dumped barons of the industry, out of the sector ended in a whimper after the Bombay high court quashed the first information report (FIR) filed by crime branch of Goa police based on the Justice M B Shah commission’s findings.Crime branch had registered the FIR based on the complaint of the directorate of mines and geology has closed the illegal mining case. A special investigation team (SIT) was investigating 126 mining cases.In 2023, Supreme Court order quashed and set aside the high court order directing state to register an FIR with respect to offences alleged to have been committed by persons responsible for illegal mining in Goa.The Shah commission, which investigated the mining scam, had observed that several mining companies were allowed to fraudulently use the clause of condonation of delay for renewal of their leases. The commission had pegged the loss through the alleged mining scam at Rs 35,000 croreOf the 16 cases of illegal mining, only one case was left to be investigated by the SIT, with the rest either chargesheeted or closed.The cases were filed against politicians, bureaucrats and former leaseholders, including former chief minister and PWD minister Digambar Kamat,Advocate general Devidas Pangam told TOI, “The high court has quashed the main FIR in mining cases. We are waiting for the order.”On July 26, 2013, the mines department had filed a complaint with the crime branch seeking that criminal liability be fixed against those involved in the mining scam based on Shah commission report, Supreme Court’s central empowered committee and public account committee (PAC) of the state legislative assembly.On Aug 19, 2013, the crime branch registered an FIR against politicians, bureaucrats, mine owners, officials of the mines department and others identified in the three reports. The one-member SIT is looking to expedite the investigation in the matter.The crime branch had named a former mines director and mines department officials in the FIR.During the course of investigation, the SIT had arrested bureaucrats and iron ore traders, who were later released on the bail.On Aug 19, 2013, the crime branch registered an FIR against politicians, bureaucrats, mine owners, officials of the mines department and others identified in the three reports. The one-member SIT is looking to expedite the investigation in the matter.The FIR was registered under IPC sections 120(b) (conspiracy) and 166 (public servant disobeying law), sections 13(1) (d), 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and sections of the Mines and Mineral Development Act, Mineral Concession Rules, Mineral Conservation and Development Rules and Goa Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation, Storage of Minerals Rules, 2004.A SIT was constituted on Aug 26, 2013, to investigate the illegal mining cases, and included four inspectors and a sub-inspector. They were supervised by the deputy inspector general of police (DIG).Former chief minister Manohar Parrikar stopped mining in Goa in Sept 2012 following the submission of Shah commission report.
