Mauvin chargesheeted for disproportionate wealth

Sandesh Prabhudesai
15 May 2002

Mauvin Godinho, former Congress power minister accused in a multi-crore power scam, has been chargesheeted afresh by the state police in a case of possessing disproportionate assets.

In spite of tall statements being made earlier to keep all such elements out, the Congress has once again rewarded Godinho ticket from his Cortalim constituency to contest Assembly polls, scheduled for 30 May.

Making it an election issue, Godinho dubs it as yet another political conspiracy by BJP chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who had unearthed his power rebate scam as an opposition legislator in 1998.

While conducting a raid at his residences and offices as well as a farm house on 16 May last year in connection with the power rebate scam, the police had found several documents regarding his unaccounted assets.

While arresting him the same day, the crime branch of Goa police had also registered another case against Godinho. On completion of investigation, he has now been chargesheeted for possessing unaccounted wealth of around Rs 20 lakh.

According to Godinho, however, the police have prepared a case without even interrogating him or seeking information from his chartered accountant. "Even my ancestral property and the Lancer car I bought on loan is included in it", he claims.

Calling it a political vendetta, Godinho also claims that the fresh chargesheet will brighten his winning chances rather than damaging his image. He expects a sympathy wave getting created in his favour due to the BJP's revenge politics.

Parrikar, on the other hand, flays the allegation of misusing government machinery to indict Godinho, stating that the law has taken its due course and the chargesheet is simply an outcome of the ongoing investigations for the last one year.

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