MARGAO
The stage is finally set for the trial in the infamous Power rebate scam involving former Power Minister Mauvin Godinho and others.
The trial in the sensational case will start from April 12 after South Goa Additional Sessions Judge, Vincent D’Silva, who is the designated Judge to try corruption cases against politicians, on Thursday cleared all decks for the trial of the case.
At the last two dates of hearing, the Additional Sessions Judge resolved the questions over the representatives, who will be representing the two companies, which has been named in the FIR. While the court had at the last date of hearing accepted the representative of Ms Goa Glass Fibre Ltd, Thursday saw the court accepting the Liquidator of the Marmagoa Steel Ltd as the representative of the company during the trial.
Besides, former Power Minister Mauvin Godinho, a total of six persons, including former Chief Electrical Engineer, besides the two companies, have been named in the FIR lodged by the CID, Crime Branch.
Charges have already been framed against the accused persons under Section 409, 420, 465, 468, 471 read with Section 120-B of the IPC, besides Section 13(1)(d)(1), 13(1)(d)(ii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Godinho has been granted exemption from appearance in the court.
The designated court trying corruption cases has been told by the High Court of Bombay at Goa to expedite and conclude the trial within a year.
Former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar had exposed the alleged power rebate scam, which later culminated in the registration of a FIR by the CID-Crime branch against Godinho, who was the Power Minister in the then Congress government. This was followed by the framing of charges against the accused persons.
