Grill Parrikar in custody over IFFI scam: Mauvin

PANJIM, MAY 10
Claiming yet again he was exonerated by the Supreme Court in the power rebate case, former power minister and present Deputy Speaker, Mauvin Godinho, asserted the Central Bureau of Investigation should conduct custodial interrogation of Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar for the alleged IFFI 2004 infrastructure scam. 
Addressing second press conference after the SC judgement in the power rebate case, Godinho made a demand for thorough CBI investigation in the IFFI 2004 scam holding Parrikar responsible for taking all decisions at that time. 
When journalists pressed for the deputy speaker’s comment on the core committee of IFFI 2004 that was also part of the decision-making body, he said all involved should be probed, but failed to name any person, in the committee. “If one reads my complaint it is very clear,” he said.
Citing the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report, he said the CBI has to seriously look into the observations made therein. There was over inflation and bonuses paid that were not mentioned in the agreements, he maintained.    
When reminded that Chief Minister Kamat had given Parrikar a clean chit in the IFFI 2004 scam, he commented, “It was only reported in the media but the reality is different.” But when journalists pressed further for a clear-cut comment on whether Godinho felt that the core committee members, including Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, were to be blamed for the scam, he felt cornered and said “you people are trying to put words into my mouth.”   
On power subsidy case, Godinho pointed out that it was Parrikar who had tabled his concern about the “grave anxiety in the minds of the entrepreneurs and industrialists due to failure of the Government to release 25% rebate on power consumption which was announced in 1991 and subsequently discontinued in 1995.”
He said, “Records are clear. It was I who stopped power subsidy. The Rs 16-crore subsidy to industries was as per the 1991 notification and the same didn’t do any damage to the finances of the State.”  
He said it was Parrikar who was responsible for giving a subsidy to the tune of Rs 15 crore to Mormugao Steel alone when Kamat was the Power Minister. However, he observed all decisions were made by Parrikar.
On a question whether he found the subsidy to Mormugao Steel dubious and whether he would demand for an inquiry into it, Godinho said, “Yes there was a dubious intent. I will do my homework on that and then come to you again.”