PANJIM: The Income Tax Department and the State police are questioning a casino owner after three persons with Rs 15 lakh in cash were held during the run up to the by-elections.
Addressing media persons, Superintendent of Police (North) Chandan Chaudhary said Bicholim police on August 14-15, apprehended a vehicle with Rs 15 lakh cash. “Three people from Hyderabad were arrested in the case,” she said.
All three during the interrogation claimed that they had earned the money during their visit to a casino, she said, adding that the Income Tax department was informed about the seizure, and have begun their probe.
“They had basically come to Goa to play in the casino and the money was all from the casino,” she said.
The SP said that a casino owner was called for police interrogation and he is still being questioned jointly by police and IT sleuths. “The seized amount is also handed over to I-T,” she said.
The SP also informed the media of the FIR registered against former Chief Minister Ravi Naik, whose son Roy is a candidate in Valpoi.
Chaudhary said the FIR under Section 188 of IPC has been filed against Naik. “Following complaint from the flying squad, the vehicle was detained which had Naik and two other people,” she said adding nothing was found in the vehicle.
She said that as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines the star campaigner cannot remain in the constituency, where he does not belong to, 48 hours before the voting. “Naik’s presence in the constituency during the prohibition period was not justifiable and hence an FIR is registered,” SP said.
Speaking about the tussle between Congress and BJP workers at one of the polling station in Panjim, Chaudhary said that the matter is being investigated.
“If the person is registered as star campaigner by the party, irrespective of he is MLA or just a leader, then he cannot be there in the constituency during the polling period, unless he or she is a voter of that particular constituency,” she said.
“We will investigate into all the aspects registered in the complaints. Appropriate action will be initiated against all those violating the rule,” the SP said when asked about presence of Minister Vijai Sardesai at the site, where the incident reportedly took place.
