Land grab victims blame cops for ‘emboldening’ fraudsters

ANJUNA: The victims of land grab in the State have now blamed the police for failing to act promptly which emboldened the fraudsters to continue grabbing properties belonging to Niz Goemkars.

In one case, a land owner is battling in the court to take back his two landed properties at Anjuna, which were illegally grabbed by fraudsters in 2012. Despite reporting the matter to the authorities concerned and the police, the latter failed to act. It was somewhere in May 2012, when Pradip Harmalkar, holding Power of Attorney for the present original owner Patricia Celine De Souza noticed some cleaning activities taking place in the property bearing Survey Number 538/5 admeasuring 4425 square metres. Accordingly, 

Harmalkar informed Bartholomew C D’Souza, brother of Augusta Piedade De Souza, who is the grandmother of the present owner.

Upon enquiries it was revealed that one Rosa Maria De Souza alias Rosa Maria D’Souza allegedly falsely claiming to be the daughter of one Joaquim Antonio De Souza, sold the property through a purported power of attorney holder Estevan De Souza of Santa Cruz to one Anil Goyal from Uttarakhand and to Mohammed Suhail from Candolim. 

While one property was already sold out, Rosa Maria De Souza alias Rosa Maria D’Souza later allegedly sold another property bearing Survey No. 537/12 in Anjuna village admeasuring 575 square metres belonging to the same owner to Anil Goyal, which was further sold to one Aman Chib and Om Prakash Madaan alias Om Prakash Madan, names which presently appear in the occupants’ column of Form I & XIV.

When the original owner came to about the fraud, he immediately filed a complaint at the Anjuna Police Station on May 18, 2012 and to the North Superintendent of Police on May 22, 2012, informing of the fraudulent sale of property bearing Survey No 538/5 at Anjuna. 

Meantime, on May 21, 2012, the owner filed objection for the mutation proceedings for the said property. He said since the time of filing complaint in 2012 to till date that is October 2022, the Anjuna Police have not initiated any action in the case.

The complaint was filed against Rosa Maria De Souza alias Rosa Maria De Souza alias Rosa Maria D’Souza, Estevan D’Souza, Anil Goyal, Mohammed Suhail, Aman Chib, Om Prakash Madaan alias Om Prakash Madan and the then Bardez Mamlatdar for alleged fraudulent sale of land. 

The properties were originally owned by Valeriano Agapito De Souza, who was married to Maria Angelica Pereira and on their deaths were inherited by their two children Antonio Xavier De Souza, married to Erolina Artimisia De Souza nee Mendes and Joaquim Carmo De Souza, bachelor.

The present owner Patricia Celine De Souza is the great granddaughter of Valeriano Agapito De Souza and Maria Angelica Pereira.

Joaquim Antonio De Souza is shown as the father of Maria Rosa Maria De Souza alias Rosa Maria D’Souza, the fake owner who allegedly sold the properties to Anil Goyal and Mohammed Suhail. Joaquim Antonio De Souza (if he existed) had no right, title and interest in the property. Maria Rosa Maria De Souza alias Rosa Maria D’Souza (if existed) had no relation with the family of the original owner.

There is a name in the title namely Joaquim Carmo De Souza, was the grand uncle of the present owner who died as bachelor and is party to the inventory proceedings. The accused created confusion trying to show Joaquim Antonio De Souza and Joaquim Carmo De Souza as one and the same person.