PANAJI
The Commission of Enquiry into land grabbing cases has directed the office to issue notices to the accused booked in more than one case of land fraud as it held its first hearing into 44 First Information Reports (FIRs) this week.
Soon after taking over the inquiry in January 2023, the one-man commission of former Bombay High Court judge, Justice V K Jadhav inspected several properties in Assagao, Calangute, Anjuna, and other areas along with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and concerned government officials. The report was accompanied by case papers submitted by the SIT.
With the hearing underway, Justice Jadhav has urged the general public and interested parties to submit complaints, replies, or documents pertaining to their claims for illegal and grabbing carried out through forged documents, to the Commission.
The Commission also directed to issue notices under section 8-B of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 to accused persons involved in more than one land grab case. The next date of hearing is fixed on March 20, 2023.
Master Muhammad Suhail Shafi is among the highest to go behind the bars in connection with large-scale fraud. His accomplice Rajkumar Maithi is arrested four times whereas the driver of Bardez Mamlatdar Yogesh Vazarkar; Royson Rodrigues, Amruth Govekar, Sandric Fernandes and Record Attendant with Archaeology Department Dhiresh Naik are arrested two times each.
The SIT has registered 45 FIRs and arrested 25 persons including government employees, all of whom were subsequently suspended pending departmental action and police investigation.
