Team Herald
PANJIM: Transport Department has cancelled the permit of a tourist taxi after it was found to have been used in a prostitution racket, two months ago. Transport Director Nikhil Desai, in an order on Monday, directed the vehicle owner to surrender the permit to the department within 48 hours.
The vehicle GA-03-N-9941 was allegedly used for human trafficking and prostitution, which was exposed following a raid at Baga, Calangute on May 30, 2018. Calangute police had rescued two girls from Mumbai and Gujarat while two men – Kevinkumar Patel and Manjunath Balganoor – were booked for the offence.
Transport Department had issued a show cause notice to registered owner of the car Rout in June. However, Rout did not appear for hearing.
“Rout has neither submitted his say/explanation nor did he appear in person. The State Transport Authority considered the matter and deliberated in detail and felt that the gravity of the crime is serious and the taxi has been used in a cognisance offence and thus is attracts punishment of cancellation of permit of the taxi,” the findings of the department state.
Rout has been asked to park his vehicle at his residence and surrender the permit within 48 hours.
