PANAJI
Amid allegations of an extortion racket in coastal Bardez triggered by media reports quoting the ruling party's own MLA Michael Lobo, the Chief Minister on Friday said his administration "was clear" and that a smear campaign was being carried out to gain political mileage by some quarters.
Sawant made the comment in the backdrop of identical police complaints filed by owners of two popular Bardez night clubs -- Nandan Kudchadkar and Sahil Adwalpalkar -- who have alleged that a "fake letter" is in circulation, purportedly addressed to the PMO accusing the Chief Minister of extorting money from them.
Kudchadkar and Adwalpalkar in their complaints addressed to the Porvorim and Panaji police inspectors respectively have claimed that signatures in this 'fake letter' have their surnames and since they were the only club owners with those surnames were reporting that their signatures were forged.
The two club owners, who have identified the same international number through which the so called 'fake letter' was circulated, have both said in their complaints that an FIR be registered and an investigation conducted to get to the origins of it.
Sawant meanwhile, said the so called representation made to the Centre are to defame his government by using forged signatures.
"I have asked the DGP to call all the alleged signatories and initiate a thorough investigation in the matter," Sawant said, adding that the guilty will be punished.
Sawant, who was on a day's visit to Delhi on Thursday, however, feigned ignorance about whether such a letter had indeed reached the PMO.
PANAJI TO BE SOLAR CITY: Panaji city has been picked to be a 'solar city' and a capacity of 88 megawatts will be installed over the next two years, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday.
Sawant said solar panel units will be installed through government as well as private initiatives driven by the Goa Energy Development Agency.
All government buildings and commercial establishments will be installed with rooftop solar panels, he added.
