MARGAO
The raids, which began Saturday morning at around 8 am continued till noon and the six-hour
operation only ended at around 2 pm. Babu was not present at his bungalow when the ACB sleuths descended at his residence at around 8 am. Babu's wife, Savitri, who is also the South Goa district mahila Chief, was holed up at the residence when the sleuths arrived in the morning in a couple of vehicles.
Armed with a search warrant, members of the team went about their job of carrying out the search of Babu's sprawling bungalow and the garage housing a fleet of vehicles. Savitri was told by the team that none of the members of the house will be allowed to leave or anyone permitted to enter the house during the raid-cum-search operation. Armed policemen manned the gate leading to the residence, ensuring that no one was allowed entry inside as per the instruction of the ACB team. Savitri was also told to keep her cell phone on the table.
The team was seen conducting a search of the fleet of vehicles parked inside Babu's garage. A photographer was seen clicking photograph as the sleuths went about noting details of the swanky cars and other vehicles.
The ACB team also assessed the furniture and other items inside the house, including the posh bungalow, indicating that they were on the job to carry out valuation of the items, besides vehicles in the name of both Babu and wife Savitri.
Though entry and exit to the residence was barred during the presence of the ACB sleuths, Savitri was seen on a mobile phone during the operation.
The team left the bungalow at around 2 pm - nearly six hours after conducting a detailed search of the bungalow and the Quepem and Margao offices.
