PANAJI
In yet another arrest in land grab cases, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested a government driver on Monday. The 47-year-old identified as Yogesh Wazarkar is attached to the Office of Mamaldar, Bardez.
He is the third government employee to be arrested in the massive land scam that has seen arrests of a total of 17 persons to date.
Sources said that Wazarkar connived with the masterminds and kingpins to forge documents and cheat the original land owners as well as the government of a whopping amount.
"He is an important link in the scam. We will interrogate him to find further clues," an officer said.
While the office staff has been taken into custody, Mamlatdar Rahul Desai -- who also has cases booked against him -- has successfully remained off the hook. He continues to serve at the same position and the office despite his alleged involvement in the matter.
It may be recalled that the SIT had re-arrested a Valpoi local Sandric Fernandes, in a complaint pertaining to property survey numbers 24/5 and 25/2 located in Calangute.
Fernandes was earlier arrested in another land fraud in Nerul village registered at Crime Branch on August 19, 2022.
