PRATIK PARAB
pratik@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Ever since Goa reported its first land grab case, O Heraldo has been following up with its extensive reportage on the issue which has rocked the State.
This time, yet another case of land grabbing using forged documents has come to light in Cuncolim. The victims of this land grabbing case realised of the loot after they came across O Heraldo reports exposing how several lands in Salcete taluka were grabbed by a large nexus of fraudsters led by mastermind Floyd Coutinho.
The victim contacted the O Heraldo reporter claiming that his land measuring almost an acre in Cuncolim has been allegedly grabbed by some persons. Upon enquiry, the victim was shocked to realise that the name of some unknown person has been added to his property by removing his name. The fraudsters went a step ahead and developed plots on the land.
“There is a name with the surname Coutinho reflected in the property documents. After checking the registration documents, my father’s signature has been forged,” claimed victim Anand Naik (name changed).
Interestingly the Investigation Officer of the land grab cases in the Special Investigation Team has named one Floyd Coutinho as a mastermind behind these scams.
“I have learnt from sources that with the help of some builders and developers, the mastermind of the entire grabbing has executed several such operations by dislodging the original owners from their properties,” Naik further complained.
Sources informed that officials from several departments including the police have “massive stakes” in the entire grabbing racket.
