MAPUSA
In a shocking turn of events, a gaunkar and former attorney of the Tivim Comunidade, Savio Pereira has been booked by police following allegations of misappropriating funds amounting to Rs 15.50 lakh for personal gain.
According to Colvale Police, Pereira stands accused of issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for survey no 345/1 of Tivim village during his tenure as the attorney, without adhering to due procedures or securing government approval.
It is alleged that Pereira collected the substantial sum of Rs 15.50 lakh but failed to deposit it into the comunidade treasury, instead diverting the funds for his own use.
The accused now faces charges under Section 408 of the Indian Penal Code, pertaining to criminal breach of trust.
Compounding the situation, the FIR had to be registered by the police on the directive of the Bicholim court, as the investigating officer had initially failed to take action in the matter.
The genesis of the case traces back to a group of gaunkars of the Tivim Comunidade, who lodged a complaint against Pereira.
They alleged that he accepted Rs 15.50 lakh from Zacrias Victor D’Souza, purportedly representing property owners Keith Lewis and Gertie Lewis.
The complaint further asserts that Pereira unlawfully granted road access to their property via land belonging to the Tivim Comunidade, bypassing proper procedural channels.
This development has sent shock waves through the community, raising concerns over the integrity of institutional processes and the protection of comunidade resources.
