MARGAO
Allegations and counter allegations of demanding money from vendors rent the air in Margao Municipal Council’s Gandhi market on Thursday, prompting the Margao police to initiate an inquiry into the claims and counter claims.
While Riyaz Abdul Sheikh, the general secretary of Gandhi Market Citizens Welfare Association and a group of person lodged two separate complaints against Mainuddin Sheikh, on the allegations that he is demanding money from vendors for Minister Babu Ajgaonkar and brother Rajendra Ajgaonkar, a separate complaint was lodged by one Suresh Aparna against Riyaz Sheikh alleging that the later was allegedly demanding money from another group of vendors.
While both the groups have lodged their complaints and counter complaints with the police, Margao PI Kapil Nayak said the police is investigating into the two complaints.
Reacting to the complaint lodged by Riyaz against Mainuddin and them, Minister Babu Ajgaonkar and his brother Rajendra, who is the acting president of the Gandhi Market Readymade and Vegetable Vendors Association, has rubbished the allegations, terming them as false and baseless. “The police should find out what role Riyaz has to play with the vendors in the Gandhi market. He has levelled the allegations against me and my brother after a vendor alleged that Riyaz was demanding money. If at all any illegal vendor is doing business in the market, he should have lodged a complaint with the Margao Municipal Council,” Babu said, while demanding to know whether the vendors, from whom Mainuddin has demanded money as claimed by Riyaz, are legal or illegal ones.
Riyaz, in his complaint to the Margao police, has alleged that Mainuddin was allegedly demanding money from the fruit vendors.
Late in the evening, Margao PI Kapil Nayak informed that the police has registered a case of extortion against Riyaz Sheikh. Further investigations is in progress.
