Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Wednesday alleged a major scam involving taxi and rent-a-car permits, claiming that young Goans, particularly from economically weaker sections, were duped under the pretext of being granted permits.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Legislative Assembly, Sardesai accused a government-appointed agency of collecting crores of rupees from unsuspecting locals through its agents.
“The government had clearly said rent-a-car services would not be allowed, yet the agency is running the same service unchecked. Even more disturbingly, I was told during my public outreach programme that this agency is claiming to have paid Ministers' personal assistants to continue operating in Goa,” he said.
Sardesai further stated that those who had paid the agents were denied refunds and were told that their money had been handed over to the personal assistant (PA) of a Minister. Calling it a betrayal of Goa’s youth, he said many had invested their life savings with hopes of becoming self-employed.
“These are not just complaints; they are cries of desperation from our youth who are being pushed aside while outsiders benefit,” he added, disclosing that nearly 200 youths from his constituency had paid Rs 1 lakh each under the rent-a-car scheme.
Responding to the allegations, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant clarified that the rent-a-car scheme had been stopped by the government. He urged individuals who had paid money for such licences or permits to come forward and lodge formal complaints, assuring them of a detailed investigation.
“Anyone who has paid money for such licences or permits should come forward and lodge formal complaints. I assure them that a detailed investigation will be conducted. Rent-a-car operators were also running illegal businesses by giving their own private vehicles on hire and evading GST. So far, 250 private vehicles have been seized by the police, and the Transport Department has been asked to cancel their licences,” Sawant said.
He acknowledged that the Transport Department had started issuing permits through a franchisee in 2018 — a move he described as a “wrong decision” that has since been scrapped.
Sawant also flagged operational issues with rent-a-car services, stating that operators lack designated parking areas, occupy public spaces, and illegally hire out private vehicles, thereby evading GST.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho also refuted Sardesai’s allegations and urged him to file a formal complaint. He reiterated that the franchisee arrangement initiated by the department was terminated by the government.