MARGAO
The Cycling Association of Goa (CAG) Secretary General N G Akhargekar, has lodged a police complaint at Mapusa Police Station regarding the inflated bills submitted to Sports Authority for the ‘residential camp’ which never took place.
The Criminal Complaint has been field “against Office bearers of the Goa Cycling Associations i.e., the President, Nitish Kerkar, Treasure, Mr. Viplav Bhakta and Joint Secretary, Mr. Placid Fernandes for criminal misappropriation of funds of Cycling Association of Goa for offences punishable under Section 316 (1), 316 (5), 318 (4), 324 (3), 336 (3), 344 read with Section 61 (2) of Bharatiya Naya Sanhita, 2023,” reads the subject matter of the complain which is now in the possession of The Goan.
“You are as such requested to take note of the present complaint and lodge an appropriate FIR against proprietors of the three agencies viz. Hirloskar Cateers, C.F. Builders and Media Solution 365 along-with with the office bearers of the Goa Cycling Association viz. Mr. Nitish Kerkar (President), Mr. Viplav Bhakta (Treasurer) and Mr. Placid Fernandes (Joint Secretary) for hatching a criminal conspiracy to embezzle funds of the Goa Cycling Association and to further initiate appropriate investigation in the matter,” it added.
“As a part of preparation for the National Games held in Goa from 26th October 2023 to 9th November 2023, the Cycling Association of Goa was contemplating on holding a residential training camp, to prepare Goan cycling enthusiasts/ sportspersons for the National Event. However, owing to poor response to such residential camp, it was resolved by the Association to organize only a day camp for the participants,” Akhargekar said in his complaint, a copy which has been given to the Police Inspector of Economic Wing cell in Panjim.
Elaborating further he added: “As such, a day-camp of 49 days was organized under the aegis of Cycling Association of Goa from 18th September 2023 to 07th November 2023.”
The Cycling Association of Goa’ is the Apex Body of Cyclists and Cycling Enthusiasts in the State of Goa which is affiliated to the Cycling Federation of India and the Goa Olympic Association.
The funds embezzled under the subject invoices was money received by the Sports Authority of Goa from the Indian Olympic Association (IOC) meant for a sanctimonious purpose of facilitating training sessions of sports-persons for the National Games to be held in Goa, and the Cycling Association of Goa being the Apex Body in the category of cycling was entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that the funds were utilized in the best interests of such cyclists.
“It is rather unfortunate however that certain office bearers have misused their position which they hold they in public trust, for personal gratification by misusing public funds. It is distressing that instead of making efforts towards betterment of the Cycling Sport in Goa, some office bearers of the Association are only interested to fill their personal coffers by defrauding the Association,” stated the complaint letter, while demanding to register offenses under various sections of Bharatiya Naya Sanhita, 2023.
Giving a sequence of events leading to the so-called ‘residential camp’ in preparation for the 2023 National Games the Secretary General has once reiterated that CAG never organized a residential camp by a day-camp.
The Secretary General explained that the camp consisted of “one training session’ every-day from 6:30 am to 8:30 am where the participants reported at their own expense, without any refreshments/replenishments being provided to them by the Association.“
Akhargekar said that the lid on the inflated bills unfolded thanks to a ‘whistle blower’ who blew open the inflated bills amounting to over 14 lakhs.
“In the month of July 2024, for the first time, through some reliable sources, some members of the Association were informed that various amounts were disbursed to different agencies on behalf of the Cycling Association of Goa, under the pretext of organizing a 45 days residential camp at Verna. It was also learnt that all such bills were inflated and a whopping amount of over Rs. 14 Lacs was embezzled with active connivance of some office bearers of the Association in which particularly the President Mr. Nitish Kerkar was involved,” the complaint states.
“Upon further investigation, it was realized that, Tax Invoices were apparently raised by three different agencies for providing food, travel and accommodation to 13 players and 4 officials of Cycling Association of Goa for a period of 45 days commencing from 11/09/2023 to 25/10/2023. The first invoice was raised on behalf of “C.F. Builders”, Real Estate Developers, Builders and Contractors, dated 15/10/2023 for an amount of Rs. 4,80,000 (Rupees Four Lakhs Eighty Thousand Only), towards providing accommodation to 13 players and 4 officials for a duration of 45 days commencing from 11th September 2023 to 25th October 2023,” it added.
