TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: In a major development, the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) finally got cracking on the allotment of plots issue, as it has filed a criminal complaint with the anti corruption bureau (ACB) of the Vigilance Department  against unknown persons  for cheating the government in the allotment of plots to seven companies to develop special economic zones (SEZs) in 2006.

0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; text-align: justify; ">Mandar Shirodkar, deputy general manager of GIDC filed the complaint against unknown public servants and private persons for cheating the state government.

The complaint mentions that these accused conspired in connivance with GIDC officials to cheat the state government, during allotment of land to various companies in 2006-07.

Shirodkar stated that the accused hatched a criminal conspiracy and manipulated the documents, thus cheating the state government in connivance with officials of GIDC. He wrote that the lands were allotted to various firms including Meditab Private Limited, Peninsula Pharma Research Company Private Limited, K Raheja Corporation Private Limited, Paradigm Logistic Private Limited, Inox Mercantile, Planetview Mercantile and Maxgrove Private Limited by cheating the government.

The Vigilance Department has registered a  first information report (FIR) under section 120 (B) read with 420, 486 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code and section 13 (2)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The comptroller auditor general (CAG) report had castigated the then Pratapsing Rane-led government of giving the plots to SEZ developers at throw away prices causing loss to the state exchequer.

The then leader of opposition and current Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had filed a private complaint with the Director General of Police last year in connection with the SEZ scam. The complaint has not been taken to its logical conclusion.