On its inaugural day yesterday the first complaint at the Fatorda Police Station was against local MLA Vijai Sardesai and others for having hatched a criminal conspiracy and committed cognizable offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
With complaint submitted is a copy of video voice clippet along with a verbatim transcript wherein the accused Vijai Sardesai is seen coercing, pressurizing and/or attempting to bribe and influence a litigant Kashinath Shetye, who had filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court at Goa that open spaces at the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) Estate at Verna pursuant to a conspiracy had been illegally converted into plots and thereafter allotted to amongst others Manohar Parrikar and former Fatorda MLA Damu Naik.
The conversation exposes the criminal conspiracy and subsequent illegal acts in conversion of open Spaces at GIDC Verna and subsequent illegal allotment of plots which prima facie also indicates cash transactions to the detriment of GIDC and State Exchequer with Kashinath Shetye claiming that Manohar Parrikar had offered him Rs 1.25 crores.
The conversation prima facie clearly spells out conspiracy and commission of illegal acts punishable under the penal law and Prevention of Corruption Act more so being cognizable and non-bailable including Sections 420 r/w S. 511 & 120-B of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) & Section 7 &13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The assets of all the persons named in the conversation must be examined to see if the flow of funds had been from unknown sources or there are disproportionate assets, since the grant of the plots would be for a consideration as also, grant of plots without auction but to favourites, would amount to doling out public property by corrupt means.
The Fatorda Police have been called upon to forthwith register the complaint as an F.I.R under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code and thereafter investigate the same in terms of Chapter XII of the Code against the accused named in the complaint and unknown others, who have connived to dole out public land at a song and also for the attempt to cheat, as revealed in the conversation, which is clearly an inducement being offered to withdraw cases filed.
It is hoped that the in charge of the Fatorda Police Station as the custodian of the Temple which is for the upkeep of the rule of law will uphold the law in letter and spirit by proceeding in accordance with law without acting as a caged parrot of the political bosses.
