Panaji: Trinamool Congress Party’s Goa state in-charge Mahua Moitra on Friday demanded inquiry through Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Enforcement Directorate (ED) claiming that he had acquired a mine in neighbouring Maharashtra state.
Addressing a press conference, Moitra said that the investigation would be conducted into from where Sawant for the money to purchase a mine at Dodamarg District in Maharashtra.
She said that Sawant has procured the mine to extract minor mineral. “Sawant was Ayurveda Doctor in the government service before he became the CM. The questions should be asked from where he got the money,” Moitra added.
The TMC leader said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah who initiates inquiries through CBI or ED against the opposition leaders, should also do it against Sawant.
She said that while Goa is still waiting for legal mining to resume, the chief minister has acquired the licence to mine in Maharashtra.
In yet another statement, Moitra questioned why Sawant is allowing Karnataka to divert water from Mahadayi basin despite Goa winning the case with Inter State Water Dispute Tribunal.
“Goa government has given NOC to notify the award of tribunal when Special Leave petition is pending in the Supreme Court,” she said.
Moitra accused BJP-led Goa government of striking a deal with Karnataka over Mahadayi issue.
Sawant was not reachable for his comments on the issue raised by TMC.
In April, 2020, Sawant reacting to the land purchase at Dodamarg had told reporters that the deal was perfectly legal.
“I have purchased 21,000 square metres of land in my name (at Dodamarg). If I had to hide something, I would not have purchased it in my name,” Sawant had said.
