The Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court has discharged former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Prakash Velip and four other accused in a criminal case dating back over two decades, which involved alleged financial irregularities amounting to ₹7.75 crore at the Goa State Co-operative Bank.
In its order, the court observed that the prosecution had failed to place crucial documentary evidence on record, including the original “sanctioned estimate” for the building project in question. In the absence of this key document, the court noted, it was impossible to establish whether any excess payments had been made, as alleged by the prosecution.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The court held that without foundational evidence to substantiate the charges, continuing the proceedings would serve no legal purpose. Consequently, all five accused were discharged from the case.
The ruling brings closure to a long-pending matter that had remained unresolved for more than 20 years, underscoring the importance of proper documentation and evidence in financial irregularity cases.
