The anti-corruption bureau had completed the preliminary inquiry into the irregular and illegal purchase, procurement and distribution of water tanks way back in October 2014. At that point of time the signals from the ACB, then headed by its absolutely professional Superintendant of Police Bosco George, was that a formal FIR would be filed against Churchill Alemao any day.Then quite obviously, the political signals of the BJP government crossed with the professional signals of investigative officers.
While the FIR against Churchill Alemao on the basis of investigations done earlier by the ACB, is justified as this warrants a proper investigation and closure, the timing is extremely suspicious. Another team in the ACB had worked speedily and with alacrity when the new Parrikar government was singing its zero-tolerance to corruption mantra with a little less shame. So what happened when the team of Bosco George completed their inquiry and were ready to file the FIR? What transpired between October 2014 and end of June 2016, for this to be registered by which time Alemao got embroiled in the Louis Berger case and has returned from a trip to jail.
The genesis of this case dates way back to 2008. The CAG in its report found that the procurement and distribution of tanks happened between 2008 and 2011 even before the policy governing such purchases was finalized. PWD officials purchased the tanks, at rates which were 25-35 percent higher than the estimated cost by the department instead of the norm that it should not exceed five percent of the estimated cost.
Therefore if the FIR was registered in 2014 or earlier, it would have been considered professional. This FIR lodged in end June 2016, with early elections by year end or very early 2017 is a political FIR. This doesn’t take away from the seriousness of the case but it also throws light on the motives of the ruling party in cornering Churchill Alemao as he could be politically significant in 2017. Even as free floater, the BJP will be keen to know which way he will ultimately float. If he floats towards the BJP and in the eyes of the BJP manages to split Congress votes, the course of this FIR could also turn. When the objective of a Government is to regulate the efficiency of its investigative agencies to suit its political needs, these FIR’s lose their seriousness and shine.
If the procedure of purchasing the 6511 tanks was faulty and the procurement over and above the market price, without a cabinet decision and overruling the government, by a PWD minister of the previous regime, was illegal, why did it take the next government almost its entire term to file an FIR.
At this juncture, it’s important to keep in sharp focus, political ground realities. Churchill Alemao will contest the next assembly elections from Benaulim. This could be either on a Congress ticket, or as an independent or under the UGDP banner. In the event of the Congress and Alemao both contesting, the BJP’s nominee (in all likelihood Caitu Silva, his citizenship case permitting) will benefit. However if the united front contests in a one on one against the BJP, its supported candidate will be wiped out and may struggle to even save his deposit. The FIR has therefore been clearly field to put Alemao on the back foot and make him vulnerable to overtures from the BJP to clear his cases. There is absolutely no other reason for the filing of the FIR. Herald once again explicitly states that it is not for a moment suggesting that Alemao shouldn’t be probed or the case itself is politically motivated. The case has merit but the timing of the FIR does not.
Similarly the case against Elvis Gomes, accused of converting 30,226 sq meters of land by acquiring it and handing it back to the original owner, as former Managing Director of the Goa Housing Board follows a similar pattern. The case pertains to 2011. Elvis Gomes has served in some key positions of the government like the Sports Authority of Goa and IG Prisons with Chief Minister Parrikar personally vouching for his integrity. (Herald isn’t giving him any certificate but merely pointing to certificates he received from political masters who have turned against him). Isn’t it therefore interesting that this FIR filed against him coincides with his decision to enter politics and not on a BJP ticket. A shocked Gomes did say that he was not even the MD of the Housing Board when the controversial land acquisition occurred, having joined two months later when the procedures were complete. Notwithstanding this defense, the government must explain why no action was taken thus far.
The BJP is known for letting cases of opposition politicians simmer or be kept in very low flame till a political need arises. It is then that the flame is turned up and the state machinery is used to fan the flames.
