PANJIM: In a setback to former tourism minister Dilip Parulekar, one of the accused in the Serula Comunidade land scam, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed him to face trial in the case. The court, on the other hand, has ‘partly allowed’ his plea that challenged the petitioner’s unauthorised way of approaching the court as the matter concerns government officials.
On Friday, Justice C V Bhadang directed Parulekar and two others to face trial for offences under sections 119 (public servant concealing design to commit offence which it is his duty to prevent), 120 (concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment), 420 (cheating) read with 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
The order of the court comes in response to a petition filed by Adv Aires Rodrigues challenging Crime Branch’s report seeking closure of the case.
Parulekar, and the then attorney of Serula Comunidade Peter Martins and then Administrator of Comunidade of Bardez Irene Sequeira have also been directed to appear before the Mapusa JMFC in August.
The court partly allowed a plea filed by Parulekar wherein he had contested Rodrigues’ move of approaching the court without a sanction from the government.
Rodrigues had drawn the Court’s attention that 599 sq mt of prime land at Porvorim was given to Parulekar without auction and without following the procedure contemplated under the Code of Comunidade. He had also alleged that the land was given for a mere Rs 3,41,320 though the value was more than a crore.
When Herald contacted Parulekar he said, “I will decide my course of action after receiving the order copy and taking legal opinion from my advocate.”
