PONDA
Days after The Goan exposed a suspected police hand in a currency deal in Saligao, reports emerged from Ponda of police involvement in settling an illegal currency exchange deal of over Rs 1 crore for a prominent elected representative from the ruling side.
It is reliably learnt that an influential person, acting on the behalf of this politician from the ruling side, used the services of a money changer to convert black money amounting to Rs 1.20 crore in three transactions.
The police got involved only when the third transaction turned sour and it was realised that the money belonged to an elected representative with links to the matka trade.
According to a reliable source, the money changer had helped this influential person from North Goa to convert Rs 10 lakh on two occasions, with a 25% commission on the deal.
Since both transactions were successful, the customer trusted the money changer and decided to part with a large sum of the demonetised notes.
Incidentally, the money changer hails from a well-to-do family and had played a key role in organising political meetings of a politician in Ponda taluka during the last Lok Sabha elections.
“During the third transaction, the customer handed over Rs 1 crore in the demonetised notes to the money changer for a similar 25% commission.”
“The money was converted but the money changer did not hand over the new notes to the customer. He delayed the payment on one pretext or the other and this led to a confrontation between the duo at the residence of the money changer,” said the source.
Given that both of them had strong political contacts, the matter soon reached the notice of police officials.
“Since the illegal transaction involved black money, a police complaint was ruled out, but the money changer was summoned by a police official and warned to return the money.”
“The money changer continued to delay in handing over the money, but soon realised the risks involved, as the money belonged to an elected representative,” the source added.
Fearing dire consequences, the money changer then agreed to hand over the money to the customer.
Incidentally, the mother of the money changer was involved in a two-hour conversation with her son, the customer and the police official, as attempts were being made to resolve the issue and complete the transaction as soon as possible.
