The Goa illegal mining scam should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to enable a free and fair investigation into the role of current Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and that of Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni.
The illegal mining in Goa which accelerated from the year 2000 has been an all party venture and a sheer loot of the State’s rich mineral resources with the Congress, BJP, NCP and the MGP all having been beneficiaries of the pie. Besides Pratapsingh Rane and Digambar Kamat, Manohar Parrikar himself has a lot to answer as he had also been the Chief Minister of the State earlier from 24th October 2000 to 2nd February 2005. The investigation into the alleged over Rs 30,000 crore illegal mining scam should also examine the legal opinions given by former Advocate General Subodh Kantak and current Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni who was also Goa’s Advocate General from 2000 to 2005. It needs to be investigated whether the Advocate Generals had given their legal opinions to the benefit of the mining barons and to the detriment of the State exchequer and Goa’s best interests. There needs to be a probe into the assets acquired by Subodh Kantak and more particularly that of Atmaram Nadkarni. It is highly objectionable 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. It needs to be also probed whether Subodh Kantak and Atmaram Nadkarni misused their high Constitutional position as a cloak to allow the illegalities by the mining companies. The former and current Advocate General of Goa ought to be quizzed by the CBI 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 Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni. Is not Atmaram Nadkarni discreetly misusing and manipulating Prasanna Acharya to the benefit of the mining lobby in covering their illegalities. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372
