Panaji, Aug 15 (IBNS): Stacks of confidential files containing no-objection certificates and royalty challans issued by the Goa Mines and Geology department were moved to a secret location for scrutiny on Tuesday.

Senior mines officials took the custody of the files under armed police protection this evening.

“The files have been taken to an undisclosed location. The NOCs and the royalty challans issued by the department from 2009 till date will be inspected by a panel of chartered accountants and other officials,” Mines Director Prasanna Acharya told reporters as the files were being taken in the police van.

The scrutiny is being undertaken to probe illegalities in the exports of minerals. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had pointed out illegal mining in his Public Accounts Committee report, he prepared while the leader of opposition.

The then Mines Director Arvind Lolienkar was suspended, soon after the BJP-led government came to power in March, for his alleged involvement in the mining scam.

(Reporting by John Edwards)