PANAJI
Bardez Mamlatdar Rahul Desai is probably lucky to escape disciplinary action for all the land misdeeds he is charged for. He has come under the radar of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Goa Police, probing the mega land scam, but he continues to remain off the hook.
The Goan inquired with various officials in the District Administration (North Goa) only to know that Desai continues to serve in his position.
“No suspension or transfer order has come against him yet. He continues to work as Bardez Mamlatdar,” one of the officials said.
While this has given Desai ample opportunity to allegedly wipe out evidence against him, if any, from government records; sources said that he has also remained safe from police interrogation so far. No summons for questioning is dispatched to him as on Monday evening.
While the authorities overlooked some of his alleged misdeeds in the past, an official from North District Collectorate revealed that his service records since the date of joining the Goa Government will be probed into besides his assets.
“We have been given to understand that he could have amassed huge wealth disproportionate to his actual source of income. Our government agency might be roped in to investigate this angle besides his alleged involvement in the land scam,” he said.
The Goan tried in vain to connect with North Goa Collector Mamu Hage who remained unavailable for comment.
Desai faces two First Information Reports (FIRs) for the offense as he connived with Royson Rodrigues and his accomplices to forge land-related documents and allow its sale for a whopping amount.
A member of the SIT had said that Royson has confessed conniving with Dessai to illegally transfer ownership rights.
Sources said that Desai’s call records and messages will also be retrieved as a part of the ongoing probe. However, as of date, he remains in service with no penal or disciplinary action.
