ED confiscates 2 plots from Brit national

PANJIM, MARCH 1
Enforcement Department has confiscated two properties belonging to a British national and has slapped a penalty of Rs 5 lakh under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
The information procured by RTI activist Rajan Ghate shows that Carol Elizabeth Ashby had purchased two plots of land – total area 1,525 sq mtrs and 1,775 sq mtrs respectively at Assagao village in Bardez taluka.
ED deputy director Samir Bajaj penalised the Britisher for having purchased ‘agricultural land’ and that she purchased it while on tourist visa.
“On investigation it was found that the purpose of her stay in India was for a definite period of six months or one year which was periodically renewed and she was on tourist visa. It appeared that the purpose of her visit to India was not for an uncertain period and it did not appear that she was involved in any business, profession or employment before purchase of property…”, an extract from the order copy reads.
After several hearings, the ED in November 2010 ordered to confiscate her properties and asked to deposit the amount to the Mumbai ED within a period of 45 days.
In her defense, Carol, a retired teacher said that she had made payments towards these properties and ‘was interested in voluntary work with local dogs.’
She claimed that she arrived in Goa in 1998 along with her husband and that after his death in 1999, she stayed alone and constructed a house on the purchased plot.
With this seizure, the ED has confiscated a total of six properties in Goa which includes three properties of Russian firm True Axis Resort Pvt Ltd and a property belonging to Swiss national August Thommen.