Case registered against Nilkant

Case registered against Nilkant
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JAN 11
After a prolonged delay and Court order, Vigilance Department registered a case against Tourism Minister and Chairman of Goa Housing Board Nilkant Halarnkar into the land scam.
Superintendent of (Vigilance/Anti-Corruption Branch) Police Bosco George confirmed that a case has been registered under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code against the minister and others.
“The investigation has begun…although a case has been registered now, the inquiry into the matter was underway”, George said refusing to divulge details.
The matter filed by social activists on November 22, 2010 saw progress after Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Panjim on Monday directed Goa police to register First Information Report (FIR) within 24 hours into the land scam.
Magistrate Shabnam Shaikh passed this order after hearing an application filed by Kashinath Shetye and 12 other social activists that the Vigilance Department failed to register the complaint wherein they alleged scam in conversion of Goa Housing Board (GHB) land at Colvale.
In a letter to Directorate of Vigilance on November 22, 2010, the complainants alleged Halarnkar of being involved in the scam.
“The respondent (Vigilance officers) is hereby directed to take action with regard to the complaint…by invoking relevant section of law as per the ingredients that are disclosed in the said complaint and register the FIR within 24 hours,” the order reads partly accepting the application by the complainants.
They had alleged that Colvale land was acquired at the instance of GHB for the purpose of housing projects of the Board but it has now been allotted to Nilkant Halarnkar Trust.
“He (Chairman of the GHB) apparently in an effort to channel lands acquired for the projects of the GHB, to his own use, has chosen to abuse his position in power as Minister for Housing and Chairman of the GHB has made a show of allotting Trust which he heads…,” the letter to the Vigilance department and Director General of Police, read.
The complainants said that this has resulted a loss to the exchequer of more than about Rs 57-lakh.
The complainants also pointed out that the Chairman allotted 23,000 m2 at a throwaway price of Rs 1000 per m2 which is actually worth about Rs 4,200 m2, to an institute of hotel management and the ownership is not known.
They have estimated a loss of Rs 7.36 crores to the exchequer through the alleged illegalities.
GHB Managing Director Melvyn Vaz had however refuted allegations stating that areas in the detailed lay out plan were embarked for residential, commercial and institutional plots, housing open spaces and others.