the goan I network
PANAJI
On the last day of the year which also marked his last day in government service, former Sub Registrar of Canacona Premanand Dessai found himself in the police net for his alleged involvement in a land scam.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing large-scale land fraud in the State, arrested Dessai on charges of executing succession deed of a property in survey no. 47/1 of Assagao village based on forged documents. The former officer is also accused of conniving with habitual fraudster Rajkumar Maithi to carry out the crime.
“He facilitated preparing fake sale deed and forged documents pertaining to 5,000 sq mtrs of land which is the ancestral property belonging to another local family. The fake inheritance certificate was prepared on August 6, 2021 and the land was thereafter illegally transferred in favour of suspect, R Rodrigues. The forgery was carried out in the deputy registrar’s office and since Dessai was holding the charge then, he came under direct scrutiny of the investigation team,” an officer said.
While the officer retired on December 31, he was suspended a few months ago for failing to maintain proper registration of documents and registers.
The SIT has so far registered 46 cases and arrested over 20 persons of whom some have been arrested multiple times.
