Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has issued notice to the Goa government over non-recovery of Rs 1.5 crore from the organisers of TimeOut72, an Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival held at Vagator in 2017.
During the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the Bench pulled up the government for failing to recover the security deposit from the organisers. The court has also sought to know from the government total amount due till date from the organisers while adjourning the matter for next hearing on January 28.
A PIL filed by Trajano D’Mello alleged that the organisers were allowed to hold the vent without paying security deposit and the decision of State Level Permission Committee was bypassed by the tourism minister “for the reason best known to him and he allowed the EDM event without taking security deposit.”
He has also sought an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation against everyone involved in the alleged illegality.
“The tourism minister took decision in his own capacity and waived of the requirement of paying 50 per cent amount in advance and allowed the organisers to pay entire amount in three post dated cheques after the event was held,” he stated backing his allegations with RTI replies. The cheques had bounced,” D’Mello said adding it has caused loss of Rs 1.50 crore to the State exchequer.
The petitioner has also suspected the role of some tourism officials for causing the loss to the government.
