PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said an inquiry commission headed by a retired judge would be setup to probe land grabbing cases, while the Special Investigation Team (SIT) dealing with land grab cases would be further strengthened.
“Once the Commission is setup, the inquiry will be completed within 4-5 months and land will be reverted to its original owners,” said Sawant, in an interview with Prudent Media on Monday.
“The commission will have constitutional powers and will primarily be assigned the task to revert land titles back to the lawful owners after verifying the claims.”
“In case there are no claimants, the land in question will be taken over by the government. The entire process is likely to be completed in 4-5 months once the committee is appointed," said Sawant.
The government has already appointed a seven-member SIT team headed by SP Crime Branch Nidhin Valsan to investigate the land grab cases.
While the SIT has been entrusted to investigate the land grab cases, the inquiry commission will be entrusted with the specific task of reverting land to its original owners.
The owners will be expected to submit documents, proving their claim to the land, before the inquiry commission.
In several cases currently being investigated by the SIT parcels of land have been transacted and their titles transferred in names of the buyers by forging archival ownership documents of the Portuguese era.
It may be recalled that a seven-member SIT headed by SP (Crime Branch) Nidhin Valsan, including South Goa Deputy Collector Snehal Prabhu, DySP Braz Menezes, PI Satish Gaude, PI (IRBn) Nilesh Shirodkar, a representative of department of archaeology and representative of state registrar has been investigating the land grab issues.
There are around 110 land grab cases that are being currently investigated by the SIT and 15 people have so far been arrested and they include government servants.
There have been claims that some politicians have also been involved in the land grab cases.
"We will not compromise even if names of some politicians surface during the investigation in the land grab deals. All those involved will be investigated,” said Sawant.
Sources said the SIT is likely to arrest more persons some time soon.
Meanwhile, the chief minister said although crimes are increasing in the State, the detection rates have also risen.
“The detection rate of crimes in Goa is better as compared to other states,” said Sawant.
