PANJIM/MAPUSA: Crime Branch (CB) sleuths arrested yet another person in connection with the Serula Comunidade scam on Saturday. Mohan Narvekar, 54, a former comunidade clerk was arrested after questioning for alleged misappropriation of funds.
There is suspicion that a few police officials may also be involved in the alleged scam, into which investigation is on.
This is the ninth arrest after Serula comunidade attorney Agnelo Lobo, Taleigao panchayat secretary Peter Martins, Mohammad Hanif Badekhan, Altaf Abdul Khan, Santosh Gajinkar, Kishor Kudnekar, Sanyakta Nagvekar and Sonia Wankade were arrested under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code last week.
There had been allegations that the Serula comunidade had not maintained records of the allotment of comunidade lands and neither did it have records of cash transfers. The government’s interim report had pointed to misappropriation of several crores of rupees.
The audit report had also found that details of allotment of comunidade land were not maintained and information of the total number of plots, leased plots and the vacant plots was also not available.
Meanwhile, four office bearers of Tivim Comunidade arrested by Mapusa Police on Friday on charges of misappropriating money deposited in a nationalized bank have been released on bail of Rs 10,000 each by the JMFC, Mapusa.
According to police reports, a complaint had been filed against attorney Mathew D’Souza (65), substitute treasurer Alexander Patricio (73), substitute attorney Antonio Fonseca (65) and substitute president Luis D’Souza (63), who had taken charge of Tivim Comunidade in May 2013.
The three complainants claimed that during the period from May 10 to May 13, 2014, the accused had withdrawn money deposited in a nationalized bank, but did not submit an account of the money, despite demands from goankars.
Acting on a police complaint, Mapusa Police registered an offence under Sections 420 and 406 of Indian Penal Code and arrested the four office bearers. They were later produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, who released them on bail.
Three persons named in the complaint are still absconding, as investigations are in progress.
