Team Herald
PANJIM: Asserting that a public functionary involved in corruption cannot escape action on political grounds, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday categorically stated that the investigating agency will act on ‘available facts’ in the disproportionate assets case irrespective of whether a person is influential or not.
Parrikar, speaking to Herald on the FIR filed against Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar filed by Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) in the disproportionate assets case said, “We will go by the facts and evidence. I am not worried whether the person is big or small or influential. Police have got enough evidence to act as per the law.” He added, “Action or no action against the corrupt cannot be on political grounds.”
The Chief Minister stated that if a public functionary has assets worth more than his income than it is called corruption. “And if he or she can’t prove the source of income than it turns out to be disproportionate assets. Here it is the same case,” he said. Parrikar also dared Kavlekar to admit whether he has disproportionate assets.
Admitting that there was a delay in filing the FIR against the Congress leader, the Chief Minister said that the investigating agency has all the required evidence to prosecute Kavlekar.
“We were late in filing the FIR. It should have been done three-four years back. But ACB didn’t have the required documents against him. Now that they have it, an FIR has been filed. What is the political link in it?” Parrikar questioned.
The Chief Minister said that he had directed ACB a week ago, when he had briefed about the case, to file the FIR if they have the required evidence.
Meanwhile, BJP distanced itself from commenting on the development stating the ‘party would not like to comment on a government decision’, as the decision must have been taken after thorough investigation.
BJP general secretary Damodar Naik said, “The decision of the government is always after detail study or probe.”
He also preferred not to comment on the Lokayukta order in the beach cleaning scam involving former Minister Dilip Parulekar. “As a party we would not like to comment on judicial recommendations,” he said.
