MARGAO
Independent candidate and former Margao Municipal Chairperson, Arthur D’Silva, was booked by the Fatorda police for moving around, campaigning and soliciting votes in spite of allegedly testing Covid positive.
While the police have registered an FIR against him for disobeying the provisions under the Epidemic Disease Act and Goa Epidemic Disease Covid-19 regulations 2020, Arthur has claimed that he was notified by the authorities that he has tested positive for coronavirus.
The police action came following a complaint lodged by Salcete Mamlatdar, Assistant Returning Officer Prataprao Gaonkar after Arthur was found moving in a car at around 11.30 am near Shivam Restaurant, Murida-Fatorda.
Prataprao Gaonkar told the media that Arthur was warned by the authorities that he cannot move around to solicit votes when he has tested positive for Covid, but the candidate paid no heed.
“After the matter was discussed with the Returning Officer, Jyoti Kumari, IAS, it was decided to lodge a formal complaint against Arthur,” the Mamlatdar said.
Arthur, however, pointed out that though he had subjected himself to Covid testing on Thursday, he was yet to receive the test report from the district hospital or the authorities.
On the contrary, he blamed the police for targeting him after he questioned the manner in which they were harassing the supporters of the opposition candidates in Fatorda.
