Team Herald
PANJIM: The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) is expected to summon Industries Minister Mahadev Naik as it has initiated a preliminary inquiry into a complaint that alleged he misused a housing loan scheme for purchasing commercial property.
The inquiry comes taking into cognizance a complaint filed by lawyer-activist Aires Rodrigues over a week ago accusing Naik of committing fraud by taking a loan of Rs 30 lakh for housing under the MLA housing loan scheme and buying commercial property in Ponda. The complaint was filed even as Naik has re-paid the loan amount to the government and the party has conceded that it was indeed misuse of the scheme.
“We have begun a preliminary inquiry. As a routine procedure, the minister will be summoned for questioning. We will also seek relevant documents from the agencies concerned,” a senior ACB officer told Herald. The ACB said it will register a First Information Report only if they find prima-facie evidence against the minister.
The matter was raised in the ongoing Assembly session where MLAs, reportedly owing allegiance to the proposed third front, demanded that the government sack the minister and order his arrest for misappropriating the funds.
Independent MLAs Vijai Sardesai (Fatorda), Rohan Khaunte (Porvorim), Naresh Sawal (Bicholim) and Congress MLA from Curtorim Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco had earlier unanimously resolved to stall the proceedings of the House if the minister does not step down from the post. However, on the Assembly session’s opening day on July 27, when the legislators had stormed the well of the House, they were marshaled out. Congress legislators too had walked out in protest.
