MARGAO
The Goan Cycling Association (GCA) Secretary NG Akhargekar aggrieved by the failure of the Mapusa Police station to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) over the inflated bills pertaining to the National Games 2023 has now approached the Superintendent of Police, North Goa urging him to register an FIR in the case.
The GCA 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 GCA had organised a day-camp of 49 days from September 18 to November 7, 2023, as part of the preparations for the 38th National Games held in Goa from October 26 to November 9, 2023.
The inflated bills, which were to the tune of Rs 14 lakhs, were claimed for a residential camp, which never took place but three officials of GCA, showed the contrary and submitted bills to Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) claiming it was residential camp.
On Thursday, a complaint was submitted by GCA official Akhargekar Advocate C Padgaonkar to the SP North Goa requesting him to investigate into the matter and to direct to register an FIR against proprietors of the three agencies, which helped in the submission of the inflated bills, along with the office bearers of the GCA.
“You are humbly requested to direct the concerned officers to investigate into the above matter and to direct to register an 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) under Section 405, 409, 420, 426, 468, 477A read with Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 for hatching a criminal conspiracy to embezzle funds of the Goa Cycling Association and to further initiate appropriate investigation in the matter,” the GCA Secretary has pleaded in his letter.
Akhargekar stated that “All of these facts were informed initially to the Mapusa Police Station by a complaint letter dated 01/08/2024, despite which no action to register the FIR has taken place in the present case.”
The letter also states that “Non registration of the FIR by the police in the present case therefore is in a complete breach of the principle laid down in the judgment in Lalita Kumari vs State of UP (AIR 2014 SC 187) where in it was held that once a complaint of cognizable nature is addressed to the police, it is incumbent upon the police to Register the FIR under section 154 of CrPC without any preliminary enquiry into the matter with respect to such complaint.”
The matter of inflated bills was first reported in The Goan in July 26 edition and the issue was also raised on the floor of the assembly by Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira Alvares. A section of office bearers of GCA and cyclist’s enthusiast had met Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas and had submitted a complaint to Sports Minister Govind Gaude over the issue besides other government officials including the vigilance department.
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 38th 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,” the CAG secretary said in his letter.
The letter also states 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.
“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 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."
“Upon further inquiry, 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."
