From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Aug 2: The order on Nationalist Congress Party’s National Secretary Jitendra Deshprabhu’s anticipatory bail plea in illegal mining case has been fixed on August 4.

District and Sessions judge Nutan Sardesai today postponed the order for Thursday afternoon.

Deshprabhu has been accused of being involved in illegal mining worth crores at his property in Pernem taluka. The NCP leader had skipped three summons issued by Crime Branch, which is probing this case.

Kashinath Shetye, a social activist, had filed case against Deshprabhu in the District Court, had also moved contempt against him, after he (Deshprabhu) made statements to the media.

The NCP leader, who had appeared before the Crime Branch, last weekend, had said that he will cooperate with the police in their investigation.

Advocate Shashank Samant, representing Deshprabhu, said that a reply to the contempt notice has been filed before the court. “Whatever allegations that are made in the contempt plea are false,” he told the court.

He said that Deshprabhu, who was accused of not cooperating with the Crime Branch, had gone to the police station when media clicked and published his photographs, which does not amount to contempt of Court.

The NCP leader has been accused of illegally extracting ore in his property since 2007. State Mines and Geology department had fined Deshprabhu for Rs 1.7 crores after it was found that huge quantity of iron ore was piled up in his property and unaccounted quantity was exported.

Crime Branch has already arrested Gitesh Naik, a contractor employed by Deshprabhu.  The interrogation of senior government officials including director mines Arvind Lolienkar, Chief Wildlife Warden Dr Shashi Kumar and Transport Director Arun Desai was also conducted by police.