MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council seemed to have suddenly developed cold feet in initiating criminal proceedings against the Municipal LDC charged by the civic body for allegedly misappropriating revenue to the tune of Rs 17.44 lakh.
After the erring LDC deposited around Rs 3 lakh in the Municipal treasury on Friday, criminal action against the employee by way of lodging a police complaint seemed to have been kept on hold for the moment, with the hope the employee may deposit another installment of the misappropriated revenue in the Municipal treasury next week.
The Margao Municipal Council meeting had on Friday authorised the Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar to seek legal opinion on lodging a police complaint against the erring LDC. Based on the Council resolution, the Chief Officer on Saturday sent the draft copy of the complaint with the municipal lawyer.
However, since the lawyer was preoccupied on Saturday, he is expected to give the legal opinion on Tuesday in view of the intervening holidays.
When The Goan called upon Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar to shed light on the status of the police complaint against the erring employee, he said the draft complaint was shared with the Municipal lawyer as per the Council decision. “No sooner, I get the nod from the Municipal lawyer, the complaint will be lodged with the police,” he said.
Sources, however, said that the delay in filing the police complaint is perceived as an attempt by the civic body to give time to the LDC to arrange the money and deposit the misappropriated revenue back in the treasury.
Cong leader demands inquiry into fraud
MARGAO: Congress leader and ZP member Michelle Rebelo has said the stunning revelations made during the Margao Municipal Council meeting has brought out the bitter truth that the BJP ruled Municipality has laid to rest Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda of “Only Use UPI Payments”.
“It appears that the links of Rs 17.44 lakh financial fraud are connected from top to bottom. I demand that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who speaks of empowerment of local self-bodies should take cognizance of this fraud and ask for the report,” Rebelo demanded.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has also maintained silence for the reasons best known to him. We need explanation from the government, she said, while saying the government must conduct a high level inquiry in a time bound manner and take stringent action against those involved in the fraud.
