Team Herald
PANJIM: Crime Branch continues to drag its feet in filing a charge sheet against Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar even two years after the probe in the Serula Comunidade case began in which the Minister has allegedly secured a 599 sq mtr plot illegally.
Special Court judge B P Deshapnde on Tuesday heard arguments of complainant, advocate Aires Rodrigues, and stated that the directions will be issued on June 14. The Court on March 17, while rejecting Crime Branch’s plea for further time to probe the case, had directed that the investigation be completed forthwith.
The case was first registered at Porvorim Police station on January 16, 2014. It was transferred to Crime Branch in April 2014.
On noticing there was no headway made in the investigation, Rodrigues had approached the court seeking directions to the investigating agency.
After the hearing, the Court on October 17, 2014 had directed Crime Branch to complete the investigation within one month but Crime Branch has been seeking time to probe Parulekar.
On a petition filed by Rodrigues under Section 156 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the Mapusa JMFC on January 16, 2014 had directed Porvorim Police to register an FIR for offences under sections 119, 120, 420 read with 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, against Parulekar, Peter Martins, then attorney of Comunidade of Serula and Irene Sequeira, then Administrator of Comunidade of Bardez. Porvorim Police on the same day had registered the FIR against all accused.
Rodrigues in his complaint had drawn the Court’s attention that the 599 sq mts of prime land on the Chogm Road at Porvorim were given to Parulekar without any auction and without following the procedure contemplated under the Code of Comunidades.
Rodrigues has also submitted to the Court a recent Judgment of the High Court wherein Parulekar was hauled up for illegally usurping other land belonging to Serula Comunidade.
