PANJIM, NOV 30
After pulling the State Vigilance officers to court for not filing FIR in a land scam involving Housing Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, social activists today alleged that Housing Board meeting papers are forged.
Kashinath Shetye and Ketan Govekar have further filed a complaint at Vigilance Department that the Housing Board has altered parts of the record of the Board.
“…Avinash Bhonsle was not even present at the 412th (May 2010) meeting as he was not a member of the board of the said date. He came into the picture only thereafter and as such could not have chaired the meeting on the said date,” the copy read.
“Since the Goa Housing Board (GHB) Chairman (Francisco Pacheco) was not present in May 2010, the papers mention that the Board meeting was chaired by Bhonsle, but in fact he was never a member then,” Shetye alleged.
The pair has simultaneously informed the court on the updates and alleged political interference. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Panjim last week had issued notices to Vigilance Superintendent of Police Bosco George and Police Inspector Nilesh Rane for failing to register case on the alleged land scam.
Even as the officers were present, their request seeking three weeks time to appoint a counsel was turned down by the JMFC. They are instead asked to file a reply on the said matters on Monday.
The activists had moved JMFC alleging that Vigilance Department did not register the complaint that alleged scam in conversion of GHB land at Colvale involving Housing Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar.
They said that the land was acquired at the instance of GHB for the purpose of housing projects of the Board but it has now been allotted to Nilkanth Halarnkar Trust.
They alleged loss to the exchequer of more than about Rs 57-lakh.
The complainants also pointed out that the Chairman allotted 23,000 m2 land at a throwaway price of Rs 1000 per m2 which is worth about Rs 4,200 m2, to an institute of hotel management and the ownership is not known.
They have estimated a loss of Rs 7.36 crore to the exchequer through the alleged illegalities.
GHB Managing Director Melvyn Vaz however rubbished allegations levelled against the Board.
He said that in the detailed lay out plan there are areas embarked for residential, commercial and institutional plots, housing open spaces and others.
