Panaji, April 9 (IANS): Karnataka's independent MLA Santeesh Sail on Monday did not turn up for questioning by Goa Police Crime Branch in connection with a probe into the Rs 35,000 illegal mining scam.

Sail had been asked to report to the Crime Branch on Monday morning, but he did not present himself till late afternoon, following which he informed police in a letter about his inability to report as his mother-in-law was ailing and assured of full cooperation in the probe.

"I am in personal difficulty on account of attending to my ailing mother-in-law... as such I am disabled from securing my presence before you, as called for on April 9," Sail said in the letter to the Crime Branch, whose Special Investigation Team is probing the illegal mining.

Based on a report by the central empowered committee of the Supreme Court, Sail ran a shipping company that exported iron ore from ports in Karnataka.

Police is probing whether the consignments contained legally extracted iron ore.