The role of Goa's two Advocate Generals Subodh Kantak and Atmaram Nadkarni in the illegal mining scam case must be probed.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) currently probing the alleged over Rs 30,000 crore illegal mining scam should examine the legal opinions tendered by former Advocate General Subodh Kantak and the current Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni who was also Goa's Advocate General from 2000 to 2005. It needs to be investigated whether these Advocate Generals had given legal opinion to the benefit of the mining barons and to the detriment of Goa's exchequer and its best interests. There ought to be a probe into the assets acquired by Subodh Kantak and more particularly that of Atmaram Nadkarni. It is highly objectionable and outrageous that Atmaram Nadkarni despite being the Advocate General of Goa blatantly continues to be the legal Messiah for the mining companies including Sesa Goa- Vedanta which is one of those indicted in the illegal mining scam as per the Shah Commission report. The SIT should investigate whether Subodh Kantak and Atmaram Nadkarni misused their high Constitutional position as a cloak to allow the illegalities by the mining companies. The SIT must intensely quiz the former and current First Law officers of the State to examine and establish the sources of the huge assets acquired by them. In a clear conflict of interest the current Director of Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya continues to be the Officer on Special duty (OSD) to the Advocate General. The SIT should also probe whether Atmaram Nadkarni has been discreetly using and manipulating Prasanna Acharya to the benefit of the mining lobby in their illegal Acts. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372
