Feb 14- Former CM and BJP leader Digambar Kamat and 16 others have been discharged by Panaji Principal District and Sessions Court in the alleged illegal mining case. In Jan 2018, Goa police had filed a charge sheet against the then Congress leader Kamat for condonation of delay in renewing mining leases that caused a loss to the state exchequer. The charge sheet filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the crime branch had also named several mine owners and mines department officials. The actions were initiated following complain by the state Mines and Geology Department. Justice M B Shah Commission, which investigated the mining scam in the state, had observed that several mining companies were allowed to fraudulently use the clause of condonation of delay for renewal of their leases. The commission had pegged the loss to the exchequer through the alleged mining scam at Rs 35,000 crore.
