Whodunit??Rs 88k withdrawn from membership kitty without committee’s knowledge
TEAM?HERALD?
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday decided to freeze the bank account of the previous committee and conduct an audit, after it discovered fraudulent activities including transfer of funds from overseas into the then Subhash Shirodkar-committee’s bank account.
The newly formed committee headed by President John Fernandes held its first meeting with the newly-appointed GPCC members and office bearers at its party headquarters.
Sources said the GPCC has decided to open a new bank account. “The committee will not touch the old bank account because of the international money transaction. This matter is already under the scrutiny of the Court. We have decided to freeze that account… audit of all the accounting records by the ex-GPCC will also be carried out. The audit was never conducted before,” said one of the members who attended the meeting.
It is reliably learnt that All India Congress Committee will hold a parallel inquiry into the matter. The source also revealed that fraudulent use of the former bank account has come to the fore as on December 22, 2013 a certain amount was withdrawn even though the previous committee had dissolved by December 18, 2013. The committee has decided to conduct an independent inquiry into this case as well terming it as banking fraud. “Those found responsible will be asked to return the money with interest,” said a Congressman.
In yet another alleged banking fraud, the committee found that Rs 88,000 was withdrawn from the ‘membership account’ without the committee’s knowledge. Moreover, the present committee in a damage control for its predecessor’s laxity, managed to make pending payments. “A total of Rs 1.27 lakh was not paid towards the salaries to staffers, rent and telephone bills. We had to pay from our own pockets,” said one of them.
During the meeting, the committee members were told that indiscipline and anti-party campaigns will not be tolerated. It has also warned some congressmen stay away from interfering with the GPCC functioning. “There are some elements who are trying to project the present committee as bad. We would warn them not to interfere in our functioning… Most of these people are involved in illegalities… We will take action against land grabbers and those involved in illegal mining,” said another.
Meanwhile, the committee adopted four resolutions.
“The committee has condoled the deaths of the labourers in the Canacona building collapse and request the Goa government to compensate the family of the deceased and those injured. We have also resolved that a judicial inquiry be constituted under a retired or sitting judge…setting up a Congress bhavan in Goa was also among the resolutions,” GPCCpresident John Fernandes said.
