Team Herald

PORVORIM: The State government on Wednesday made public the names of three sitting MLAs, two former Ministers and seven former MLAs for failing to submit details of assets and liabilities within the stipulated time frame before the Goa Lokayukta.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar laid the report of the Goa Lokayukta under Section 21(2) of the Goa Lokayukta Act 2011 on the Floor of the House. 

The report mentions names Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral in the category of sitting MLAs who failed to submit their financial statements for the year ending March 31, 2017 within the stipulated time limit.

The two former Ministers include ex-Environment Minister Rajendra Arlekar and ex-Industries Minister Mahadev Naik, both from BJP. Former Speaker Anant Shet is also amongst the defaulters. 

There are seven former MLAs, who failed to submit their financial details on time – Siddharath Kuncolienkar (BJP), Francisco Pacheco (GVP), Subhash Faldessai (BJP), Rajan Naik (BJP), Benjamin Silva (IND) and Kiran Kandolkar (BJP).

“As contemplated in section 21 (2) of Goa Lokayukta Act steps are being taken to publish their names in two newspapers having wide circulation in Goa… this report is being submitted to the Governor so that the matter may be placed before the Legislative Assembly of Goa,” the report on Statements of Assets & Liabilities of Public Functionaries states. The report was first placed before the Goa Governor Dr Mridula Sinha. 

The report observed that last date for submitting details of properties by those who were public functionaries any time during the previous financial year ending March 31, 2017 was June 30, 2017. This included those who were re-elected in the February 2017 elections. Giving extended time to newly elected public functionaries, they were asked to submit details within six months of entering the office.