PANAJI
Goa's Excise Commissioner Narayan Gad will take up for hearing the issue of allegations of illegalities in the matter of renewal of excise licences of the controversial Silly Souls Cafe at Assagao on Monday.
At the last hearing, Gad had taken on record the response of the family of the excise licence holder, the late Anthony D'Gama, filed through prominent Mapusa-based lawyer, Benny Nazareth.
Lawyer activist Aires Rodrigues, had filed the complaint alleging that the licence
had been renewed in the name of a dead man and also that it was issued before the outlet had a restaurant licence which violated the Excise rules in Goa.
Rodrigues has alleged that the restaurant is being operated by the family of Union Minister Smriti Irani and the issue had snowballed into a major controversy nationally.
According to Rodrigues, Gad at the first hearing had framed two issues for determination -- whether inadequate documents were furnished to obtain the licence and whether procedural irregularities existed on the part of excise officials.
Dean, who is one of D'Gama's two sons, attended the hearing in person before Gad on Friday and was also represented by Nazareth who in a written submission has denied that Gama's heir has acted in contravention of any provisions of law.
Nazareth has also informed Gad that the Mapusa court has appointed her (spouse) as the head of the family/administrator in the inventory proceedings.
According to the written submissions, her son (Dean) was the legal attorney appointed by a power of attorney executed in August last year, by her and all her children, except one. It also states that he (Dean) filed for renewal of the excise licence.
The family of D'Gama also claims that the business of the bar and restaurant at Assagao was started and belongs to them.
