20 Aug 2019  |   05:42am IST

Speaker’s Portuguese nationality: JMFC issues notice to Goa Police

Team Herald

PANJIM: The Judicial Magistrate First Class issued notice to the Goa Police in connection with a complaint lodged against Deputy Speaker Isidore Fernandes for allegedly concealing his Portuguese nationality. 

The notices issued on North SP and Panjim PI is returnable on September 6.  Complainant Advocate Aires Rodrigues had moved the JMFC over the failure of the local police to act on his complaint filed against Fernandes.

In his petition, Rodrigues has sought directions to the Panjim Police to register an FIR against Fernandes under various sections of the Citizenship Act, 1955, Indian Penal Code and Representation of People’s Act.  He has sought directions to the police to investigate the matter properly and that court monitor the investigation as Fernandes is politically influential.

In his complaint, Rodrigues also submitted that Fernandes was also getting monetary benefits from the State Government as MLA and Deputy Speaker besides drawing pension for his earlier terms as MLA. 

“It amounts to gross violation of the very law itself and that Fernandes had committed a mockery of law by hoodwinking the authorities. He is a Portuguese national since April 2014 and suppressed his Portuguese nationality and managed to have his name continue illegally in the electoral roll, and fraudulently and dishonestly made use of the illegal entry in the electoral roll, to pose as an Indian citizen,” he stated. The Deputy Speaker has been denying allegations claiming he holds Indian nationality. 

IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar