MARGAO
Claiming that the government and the police are going slow in arresting the absconding proprietor of Kamakshi Forex, Nilesh Raikar, beleaguered depositors on Thursday set a five-Âday deadline for the police to arrest the accused or face a massive morcha cum dharna in Margao on Tuesday.
The depositors also made it clear to the government authorities, including the investigating
agency, that the money deposited by them with Kamakshi Forex is purely legal, and asserted that
they cannot be blamed if the proprietor had invested the money in various businesses.
The beleaguered depositors held a meeting at Grace Church hall, Margao on Thursday morning and discussed the failure of the Economic Cell police to nab the accused though more than a week has passed since the multiÂ-crore scam came to light.
Addressing the depositors, Goan Seaman Association of India president, Dixon Vaz, called for
unity among the victims of the forex scam, saying that they can hope to recover their money only if they all stay united.
Stating that the police has failed to nab the accused till date, Dixon pointed out that unless the
depositors hit the streets, the government will not be under pressure to expedite investigations
into the scam.
“We have to unitedly fight and get the issue resolved. The police should arrest the accused immediately before other things are resolved,” he demanded, saying that money deposited by the investors in Kamakshi Forex is the hard earned money of the seafarers.
Cruz Cardozo, president of the Goa Shack Owners Society, told the depositors that the time has
come to hit the streets with the police failing to nab the accused till date.
“I can say today that though the police and the government are aware of his whereabouts, they do not want to lay their hands on him because of his partners who are big time investors and politicians. Raikar has not been arrested till because of political pressure,” he said, while demanding that the government should get the accused arrested before the depositors and the seafarers community in general take to the streets.
“The money deposited with the company is legal. If the Kamakshi Forex proprietor has used the
money for illegal business, punish him, but return our money. It is the hard earned money of the
seafarers, Cruz said, while saying that the depositors will fight it out till they recover their money.
Meanwhile, Cruz said the depositors will offer prayers at a Mass at Holy Spirit Church, Margao
on Friday before they all descend at the district police headquarters to ascertain the status of
investigations in the case.
