the goan I network
PANAJI
The government has set up a five-member Special Investigating Team (SIT) in the alleged scam of grabbing government land in the Chimbel area that happened somewhere in the year 1996.
The SIT includes a team of Deputy Superintendent of Police Kiran Podwal, Rajan Nigalye, PSI Paresh Sinari, Head Constable Viajaykumar Salgaonkar and constable Vasudev Kesarkar.
The SIT was formed on Friday immediately acting on a complaint by Deputy Collector Revenue Gurudas Desai who had registered a complaint with the Crime Branch on Thursday.
The Deputy Collector Desai in his complaint has alleged that Rudolf Fernandes and Gunavanti Monteiro in connivance with some government officials converted around 26,025 square metre of government land and sold to private parties.
It is alleged that government officials wrongfully transferred government property to Rudolf and Gunavanti. The duo then allegedly transferred their names in official records in connivance with the government officials.
The deputy collector complaint followed after a report of the preliminary investigation by Tiswadi Mamlatdar Franclin Ferrao indicted in a land scam in the survey no 44/1,44/3, 44/1-A of Chimbel village.
Police have registered offence under section 409, 420 R/w 34 of Indian Penal Code against the accused.
It may be recalled that the Merces Panchayat panch member Prakash Naik while supporting the IT-park at Chimbel has also accused former minister Victoria Fernandes’ son Rudolf Fernandes of grabbing government land.
In a joint press conference on January 6, the members of Merces and Chimbel Panchayat have sought a vigilance inquiry against Rudolf Fernandes, who is alleged to be amongst the anti-IT park agitators,
for amassing huge wealth leaving behind the village development.
According to sources in the Crime Branch it is learnt that the SIT team will conduct raids on places related to the case and seize the official documents.
