Mining scam: Kamat appears before SIT, gets anticipatory bail

Former Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was on Monday questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Goa Crime Branch for over two hours in connection with an illegal mining scam.

"Kamat was placed under arrest after the interrogation, but was released as he had already secured an interim anticipatory bail," an officer investigating the case said.

"Kamat was questioned for around two-and-a-half hours on various clarifications required by the SIT probing the complaint of illegal mining in Goa," a senior crime branch official said.

Prior to his questioning, Kamat moved an anticipatory bail plea before the district court here this morning.

The court granted him interim anticipatory bail on a condition that he would cooperate with the SIT, and fixed the next hearing for May 2.

While granting the relief, the court ordered Kamat to furnish a bail bond of Rs one lakh and a surety of the same amount.

The veteran Congress leader then appeared before an investigating officer of the SIT in connection with the case.

The SIT has already questioned two former state Mines and Geology department directors--Arvind Lolienkar and Jagannath Bhingui.