THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said his government is ready to hand over the alleged labour gate scam to the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) for investigation, as directed by the Goa Lokayukta.
Speaking to media persons after the cabinet meeting, Sawant said he has sought details from the Labour Department on the alleged labour scam. “If required, I am ready to hand over the case to ACB for investigation. I am yet to go through the case and the order of the Lokayukta,” he said.
Goa Lokayukta Justice PK Misra, now retired, in an order passed on September 16 had directed ACB to file a First Information Report (FIR) against ‘unknown’ for conspiracy to ‘siphon’ out funds of the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Funds and against those who fraudulently took benefits of the fund.
The order also said that the investigation can be entrusted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if there is possible involvement of politicians and high officials.
Goa Forward Party had filed a complaint alleging that an amount of over Rs 13 crore had been disbursed to 15,490 BJP workers cum ‘so called’ construction workers and labourers during the pandemic.
