PANAJI: The nightmare is yet to conclude for Leader of Opposition Chandrakant "Babu" Kavalekar.
Following an FIR by the Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) of Vigilance Department against him and his wife, Savitri, in a Rs 4.78 crore disproportionate assets case, Kavalekar has now landed in trouble with the Crime Branch of Goa Police over an alleged market business, which he ran from his Betul residence.
Crime Branch on Wednesday raided the Betul residence of Leader of Opposition Kavalekar and seized thousands of matka slips from an office room located in the premises.
The office room was sealed during the raid conducted by Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Kavalekar's properties on Saturday. During the raid, ACB sleuths discovered an office room at the Betul property, where thousands of matka gambling slips and books were found. These were were subsequently sealed and attached.
Superintendent of Police (Crime) Karthik Kashyap has said that the Crime Branch will have to sift through and examine the contents attached in the raid.
SP Kashyap disclosed that at this is juncture, offence is yet to be registered against Kavalekar in the marks matter.
"The main FIR in the matka case has already been registered by the order of High Court to probe the alleged nexus of politicians and police based on petition of Kashinath Shetye. We will bring in Kavalekar for questioning soon and examine this particular offence carefully," SP Kashyap stated.
A Crime Branch team led by Police Inspector (PI) Vishwesh Karpe secured the necessary permission from the court and raided the office space at Kavalekar's Betul residence.
Drawers full of matka slips have been attached by the Crime Branch along with certain documents and a register hinting at the possibility that someone was running a full-fledged matka business from the premises.
Leader of the Opposition Kavalekar was booked by ACB during the last week under Anti Corruption Act upon the conclusion of seven and half years of probe into his assets and properties. ACB has listed at least 14 properties purchased by Kavlekar between January 2007 and April 2013 in Kerala while also calculating that Kavalekar's disproportionate assets at a whopping 59.21 per cent of his declared sources of income. On Saturday, ACB had raided his Betul residence and his offices at Quepem and Margao.
Meanwhile, the ACB continues to investigate the source of Rs 5.5 crore, which in addition to Rs 4.78 crore worth disproportionate assets, could push Kavalekar's undeclared assets to 200 per cent of his known sources of income. During questioning, Kavalekar has claimed before the ACB that he borrowed the amount from three different companies namely Akshit Exports, Vibha Stars and Prime Stars, in order to buy property.
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'GAMBLE' PAYS OFF
* Crime Branch team led by Police Inspector (PI) Vishwesh Karpe secures court permission and raids the office space at Kavalekar's Betul residence
* During the raid, ACB sleuths discover an office room, where thousands of matka gambling slips and books are found which are subsequently sealed and attached
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