The decision of the Goa Government to appoint a retired High Court Judge to oversee the current probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into land grabbing is a move in the right direction. But one wonders why Pramod Sawant had to look for a Judge all the way in Aurangabad when there are so many very reputed and distinguished retired High Court Judges in our own backyard in Goa.
Over the years we have been witnessing rampant fraudulent land grabbing that has been going on with political patronage. With at least two current Ministers, some ruling party MLAs, and BJP leaders too all being part of this mafia of land grabbers. Surprisingly none of them have been arrested, which raises serious doubts and questions over the fairness and independence of the investigation.
All this fraudulent grabbing followed by sale and transfer of property with forged and fabricated documents, even in the archives, has been going on also with the tacit involvement and connivance of some advocates, notaries and government officials all being part of this well organized crime. In this modus operandi, dead persons have been shown as alive and vice-versa while this grabbing of land has been going on undeterred in broad daylight.
Every case of land grabbing and fraudulent sale regardless of the size of the property must be probed without fear or favour. Every Property must be restored to the rightful owners and the perpetrators of these crimes must be mercilessly punished regardless of how politically well-connected they may be. It is vitally important that the findings and action taken in every case should be transparent and readily accessible to the people and not swept under the carpet. Crime must not pay. Justice must not only be done but be seen to be done.
