MAPUSA: Former attorney of the Tivim Comunidade Savio Pereira found himself in further trouble after Colvale Police added Section 420 (cheating) of IPC against his name, following allegations of misappropriation of funds amounting to Rs 15.5 lakh. Pereira was booked by police for allegedly defrauding the comunidade by pocketing the amount for personal gain. Police said the accused issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for survey no 345/1 of Tivim during his tenure as the attorney, without adhering to due procedures or securing government approval.
It was also alleged that Pereira collected Rs 15.5 lakh but failed to deposit it into the comunidade treasury, instead diverted the funds for his own use. Earlier he was booked under Section 408 (criminal breach of trust) of the IPC while Section 420 has been added for cheating the Comunidade. The police were forced to lodge the FIR on the direction of the Bicholim court, as the investigating officer had initially failed to take action in the matter.
