PANJIM: The alleged land grabbing case involving Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar has taken another turn as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has requested more time to investigate the matter. Arolkar is accused of illegally acquiring land measuring 1,48,800 square metres in Dhargalim Village in Pernem taluka, of which Rawloo Khalap is a co-owner.
Khalap had filed a petition requesting a court-monitored investigation into the matter under Section 156 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code. Adv Aires Rodrigues, who represented Khalap, stated that the police had been dragging their feet on the investigation due to Arolkar's political patronage and his position as an MLA.
SIT Police Inspector Suraj Samant, who is investigating the case, has replied to the court, stating that more time is needed to conduct a proper investigation. He has cited his involvement in eight other land grabbing cases and has requested additional documents from the Town and Country Planning Department and Pernem Sub-Registrar.
The FIR against Arolkar was filed on October 26, 2020, under section 420 of IPC, and was later transferred to the Economic Offences Cell of the Goa Police before being handed over to the SIT. Arolkar had filed a petition to quash the FIR against him, which was dismissed by the Bombay High Court at Goa on March 1, 2023.