PANAJI
The Pernem police are inquiring into allegations of an excise scam filed by Congress' spokesperson and activist, Sanjay Barde with the department allegedly recovering around Rs 27.78 lakh from the UDC even as an official confirmation is awaited.
Although the Excise Department has chosen not to initiate a vigilance inquiry or file a police complaint regarding the large-scale scam involving two officials, Barde lodged a complaint with the Pernem police urging a First Information Report (FIR).
The complaint not only alleges involvement of Upper Division Clerk Harish Naik in the offense but also seeks investigation against Commissioner Narayan Gad for shielding the accused.
“…Harish Naik has misused government power and making of forgery (forged documents) by using bank’s stamp (on the) received amount, using (used) excise dept (department’s) rubber stamp and taking (took) money from excise dept of Pernem, Goa. He (Naik) himself has printed or used govt challans (through which) he took money from the license holders…” reads an extract of a three-page complaint letter, copy of which is in possession of The Goan.
The activist further levelled serious allegations that the UDC might have issued fraudulent one-day excise licenses for dance parties in the coastal taluka during his tenure at Pernem excise station.
Barde also claimed that Gad is actively assisting Naik in carrying out these illegal activities, despite revelations of manipulating license approvals and forging government records.
The absence of any recorded submission of the audit report for the Pernem excise station to the government also hints at probable high-level corruption, he added. In view of these allegations, the activist urged the police to call for tax receipts from the Pernem excise station dating back to 2019, as well as launch an investigation into all taluka excise stations to ensure similar illegal practices are not taking place elsewhere.
“The decision by the Excise Commissioner to transfer the UDC instead of conducting an inquiry or filing a police complaint raises suspicions about the department's transparency,” the activist remarked.
The Goan contacted a senior police officer regarding the complaint to which he said that inquiry had begun. "We will inquire into the allegations based on which appropriate action such as FIR will be registered. Documents and statements will be recorded," he said.
The department has been embroiled in a controversy wherein its UDC and one of the inspectors at the Pernem excise department are accused of cheating license holders by issuing fake permissions and forging government and bank papers.
