SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
From Page 1
“What is more shocking is that this is being done by Goemkars to another Goemkar and this poor man is being taken advantage of thinking that he won't be able to fight in his frail condition,” said a friend of the family.
Florencio, who is 100% blind, is registered as a PwD with the Directorate of Social Welfare. The address and all the other addresses in Florencio’s name is the house that has been demolished. Their ration card, election card and the bills bear the same address.
So why do they find themselves being dealt with such a cruel blow of fate?
The land originally belonged to the (late) Caetano Romao Fernandes and (late) Maria Ida Vaz Fernandes who were living in Nairobi, East Africa.
The registered agreement of sale is between the ‘vendors’, that is the son, daughter-in-law and daughter of the original owners, namely (late) Xavier Jeron Antonio Fernandes, Mary Nuala Fernandes and Julie Diana Carvalho respectively; and the ‘purchasers’ Carlos Piedade Das and his son Sabino Franco Dias (brother of Florencio).
Moreover, there is a declaration from the wife of the late Xavier Fernandes and co-owner, Mary Nuala Fernandes, resident of the UK, where she confirms that in the year 1987, the property including the house was agreed to be sold to Carlos Dias for a total sum of Rs 85,000.
In 1988, Carlos was stunned to find a gift deed of this property registered in the State’s land registration office even though he had power of attorney of the same. He was shocked to find that his signature was forged on this gift deed, which was made in favour of (late) Leocardia Colaco, wherein his name figured as the witness.
It is this gift deed, which the Dias family knows is fake, which became the key for grabbing as the Colacos took over after a 14-year litigation where the Dias family spend defending their land and home on which generations spent their childhood and growing up years, in a Goa which was less greedy and violent. (Tomorrow part 2: On how the deed was done)
