Goa Police crime branch files FIR in illegal mining scam case

Panaji: The Goa police Crime Branch has registered a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the massive illegal mining scam which has been pegged to be around Rs 35,000 crore. [caption id=“attachment_1045131” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational mining image. Reuters[/caption] “An FIR has been filed and now the investigation will follow,” Deputy Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Nilu Raut told PTI today. He said that the FIR had been filed, based on a complaint running into 1,000 pages, by the state Mines and Geology department on July 26. The complaint was based on the findings of the Justice M B Shah Commission and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which bolstered claims about illegal mining in Goa. The Shah Commission had pegged illegal mining in the state to be worth Rs 35,000 crore. The Goa government’s complaint to the Crime branch held several politicians including former Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat, officials of Mines and Geology department, Indian Mines Bureau, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, responsible for illegal mining. PTI