IT probe into ex-ministers' assets ?

Sandesh Prabhudesai
21 May 2001  

Goa is planning to approach the union finance ministry as well as the income tax authorities in Delhi to probe into accumulation of disproportionate assets by three former Congress ministers

The alleged scandals they are involved into, are presently being investigated by the state police.

"Probing into disproportionate assets is beyond the scope of the police department", states BJP chief minister Manohar Parrikar. He is also upset that the local IT authorities did not take cognisance of his request in this regard.

The Congress MLAs listed by Parrikar include former deputy chief minister Dayanand Narvekar who, as the president of the Goa Cricket Association, is allegedly involved in a bogus ticket racket at the final ODI played in Goa between India and Australia on 6 April.

Former power minister Mauvin Godinho is already arrested by the police last week in connection with a multi-crore power rebate scam. Somnath Zuwarkar, another Congress MLA, is also arrested in a bank scam as the chairman of the Goa State Co-operative Bank Ltd.

"The police at the most can probe into the tangible assets, but not the intangible assets which are held by these three politicians through benami deals", states Parrikar. Though they have filed their assets before the governor, he feels that the statement is not in tune with what actually they posses.

He has also sent a detailed report to union home minister L K Advani regarding these three cases. "Though it is not required to be sent through the official channel, I have sent it personally for his information", states Parrikar.

Meanwhile, the general body meeting of the GCA, held in Narvekar's absence, voted on crucial issues of expressing no confidence in Narvekar, secretary Vinod Phadke and the managing committee, besides expelling treasurer Rama Shankardas.

While Shankardas was arrested by the police along with the ticket contractor and few others, Narvekar and Phadke had managed to seek bail from the high court, but only after stripping them of their official positions for one month. They will again take over on 26 May.

A large number of dissident GCA members managed to hold the AGM in Narvekar's absence, but the ballot boxes would be now opened in the district court, before whom five members have challenged holding of the AGM. The next hearing of it is on 8 June.

Meanwhile, as the high court verdict to grant bail to Narvekar is being challenged by the state police in the apex court, investigations into the bogus ticket scam has come to a grinding halt. "We are waiting for the court judgement", states Karnal Singh, the DIG of Police.

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