Arrested trader names politicos in mining scam

The trader arrested by Goa Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) has started spilling the beans in the illegal mining case.

Sources in the SIT have revealed that the trader, Kancha Gauder, has named a current MLA, a former MLA and a mining baron as his accomplices.

"He is ready to provide details of financial transactions and account statements of deals made by him on their behalf," source said.

Officers in the police department confirm, on the condition of anonymity, that he was working as a money launderer for many high-ups involved in illegal mining.

The mining industry has, however, welcomed the intensified probe. "We were all painted black. Such traders were involved in illegalities. Such elements should be probed and the real culprits will be known," said Haresh Melwani, managing director of HL Nathurmal mining company.

Major mining companies in Goa consider this a step in the right direction. "We were harassed for the past five years in spite of conducting fair business. Now this is a welcome move," said another managing director of a mining company on the condition of anonymity.

SIT sources say that all investigations will be carried out on the basis of leads provided by Gauder. Efforts are on to trace more such traders to help unearth a major illegal mining-politicians nexus.