the goan I network
MAPUSA
Hours before Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s arrival in Goa, Congress fired a salvo at one of the BJP-led coalition government’s partner and demanded the resignation of Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte, after alleging a Rs 1,000 crore land scam in the Serula Communidade.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar on Thursday said Khaunte should resign or be sacked and further demanded CBI or a SIT inquiry in the “massive” Serula Communidade land scam.
“The size of the scam is a massive Rs 1,000 crore involving high-profile persons. A detailed investigation should be carried out to unearth the scam and in order to have an impartial inquiry, Rohan Khaunte should resign as minister,” Chodankar said.
“And if the minister does not resign on his own, the Chief Minister should sack him,” he added.
The GPCC chief was addressing a news conference in the North Goa District Congress office in Mapusa along with district president, Vijay Bhike, Adv Shankar Phadte and Serula Communidade shareholder, Wilbur Ticlo, who is the brother of BJP MLA, Glen Ticlo.
Chodankar said the Revenue Minister, who was screaming his lungs out on the Serula land scam when he was in the opposition, was now protecting the alleged accused involved in the scam.
He said Khaunte had placed pliable officials in key departments to achieve the ends.
“Deputy Collector Gaurish Sankhwalkar is also the administrator of North Goa Communidade. This is a big setting,” Chodankar alleged and demanded that the officer should be immediately relieved from both his posts.
“Sankhwalkar has been promoted but mysteriously has remained stuck in Mapusa office, which was raided by the crime branch,” the GPCC chief said.
He said North Goa communidade office has been packed with temporary staff and demanded appointment of regular staff to fix accountability and further demanded that a retired judge be nominated as administrator of the North Goa communidade.
Foreseeing pressure on State police who are investigating the case, the GPCC chief said the inquiry should be either handed over to the CBI or SIT.
“If not CBI, the government should form an SIT headed by a retired judge to probe the huge land scam involving Serula commuidade,” he said.
North Goa District, President, Vijay Bhike, Adv Shankar Phadte and Serula Communidade shareholder, Wilbur Ticlo also spoke at the news conference.
