SIT wants to torture me in custody, says Digambar Kamat

Former Chief Minister of Goa, Digambar Kamat, has accused a special investigation team (SIT) in an illegal mining case of manipulating statement of one of the prime witnesses in the case. Kamat has filed for anticipatory bail. While filing a rejoinder in reply to the statement by police before the court, Kamat alleged that the SIT has doctored statement given by former director of mines department JB Bhingi, who is one of the main witnesses in the case.

SIT, while opposing Kamat’s anticipatory bail plea had submitted that Kamat’s custodial interrogation is needed to unearth all facts and he is trying to influence prime witnesses including JB Bhingi.

Kamat has responded stating that he has not tried to contact the former mines director in any way and he has no intention of speaking with the bureaucrat. Kamat has also submitted that he is no longer in power and the Congress party, to which he belongs, is out of power in the state of Goa as well as the centre and as such he cannot influence the probe. Hence, his custodial interrogation is not necessary.

Kamat also claims that he has always cooperated with the investigation and has remained present before the agencies whenever summoned.

He says the allegation that he is not cooperating is completely false. He also alleged that the SIT wants to torture him in custody to present their version of the probe.