Cops ordered to register FIR in GHB land scam
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JAN 10
Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Panjim today directed Goa police to register First Information Report (FIR) within 24 hours into the land scam involving Goa Housing Board (GHB) Chairman Nikanth Halarnkar.
Magistrate Shabnam Shaikh passed this order after hearing an application filed by Kashinath Shetye and 12 other social activists that the Vigilance Department was not registering the complaint wherein they alleged scam in conversion of 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 Nilkanth 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, reads.
The complainants said that this has resulted in 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 land is 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 crore to the exchequer through the alleged illegalities.
GHB Managing Director Melvyn Vaz had, however, refuted allegations stating that areas in the detailed layout plan were embarked for residential, commercial and institutional plots, housing open spaces and others.
“We strongly deny the irregularities whatsoever and there is no loss to the exchequer whatsoever”, he had said.
After pulling the State Vigilance officers to Court for not filing an FIR in the land scam, social activists had also alleged that Housing Board meeting papers were forged.
