MAPUSA
The Mapusa JMFC Court has remanded former Mapusa councillor Tarak Arolkar to seven days in police custody following his arrest by the Crime Branch in connection with an alleged Rs 40 lakh property fraud case involving land at Assagao.
Arolkar was arrested by the Crime Branch in connection with allegations that he posed as the owner of a property at Assagao and allegedly accepted Rs 40 lakh in connection with a proposed sale transaction.
According to the allegations, the property in question is located at Assagao and forms part of Survey No. 37/4. The Crime Branch is now investigating the circumstances surrounding the transaction, including the alleged representation of ownership and the payment of the Rs 40 lakh.
The seven-day custody has been sought by investigators to facilitate further investigation into the alleged transaction and to ascertain the circumstances in which the money was accepted, besides verifying the ownership and title documents relating to the property.
The investigation is also expected to focus on the documents allegedly used during the transaction and whether any other persons were involved in the alleged fraud.
Interestingly, Survey No. 37/4 at Assagao has previously figured in a Crime Branch investigation into alleged fraudulent property-related proceedings. A government commission-of-inquiry report records that the property, identified as “Quinza Adicoes”, measuring around 2,250 square metres, was the subject of an earlier Crime Branch case concerning alleged fraudulent mutation and sale-related proceedings. The report, however, does not establish any connection between that earlier case and the present allegations against Arolkar.
The fresh investigation will establish whether the alleged Rs 40 lakh transaction was connected to the disputed title of the property and whether any documents were misrepresented to the prospective purchaser.
Police are expected to question Arolkar during the custody period and examine the financial trail, property records and other documents connected with the alleged transaction.
