GIDC to file criminal plaints against ex-chairman, staff
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Anti-Corruption Branch Thursday registered two separate cases of corruption and criminal conspiracy against the Goa Industrial Development Corporation officer for unlawfully acquiring five plots at Marcaim Industrial Estate between 2008 and 10.
The FIRs were registered after taking cognizance of complaints filed by Mario J S Colaco, General Manager (Engineering) GIDC, who accused former GIDC Deputy GM (administration) William Borges, his parents Joaquim and Olinda, Nareshkumar Vora and others of hatching criminal conspiracy to acquire the plots. It is reliably learnt from sources that arrests of the alleged accused are likely soon.
Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) will also file criminal complaints against its former chairman and some of its employees in the land allotment scam, said GIDC board member and Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) President Shekhar Sardessai. The complaint will be filed with the Crime Branch.
In the first case, complainant Mario J S Colaco alleged that from June 9, 2008 to June 11, 2010, the complainant alleged that William fraudulently misused his official position, willfully concealed facts and processed the case of M/s Galaxy Plast-O-Chem Industries, a proprietary concern of one Nareshkumar Vora under one time settlement scheme.
“…knowing fully well that father Joaquim had entered into an agreement of partnership with Nita Naresh Vora, wife of Nareshkumar,” the police press statement said.
Consequently, the case of changes was processed in the record of the corporation from a proprietary concern to a partnership firm after Nareshkumar established partnership with Nita and Joaquim.
The complainant further alleged that subsequently Vora couple retired from the partnership and William processed and recommended the change in constitution allowing his father to take unlawful possession of plot No A-22 and A-23 admeasuring 2000 Sq mtrs at Marcaim Industrial Estate.
In another case, similar method was used of to help companies also involving Olinda to illegally acquire plot numbers A-24, A-25 and A-26 from July 28, 2008 to December 23, 2009.
Meanwhile, addressing media persons on Thursday, Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) President Shekhar Sardessai said that the Board of Directors, who met recently, has unanimously resolved to file criminal complaints against all those involved in plot allotment scam, including its former chairman.
“Two complaints have already been filed while one will be filed shortly,” he added.
Sardesai, however, clarified that the Board of Directors or employees who have purchased or been allotted plots with a purpose to set up industry without any fraudulent transactions, would be exempted.
“There are people who are genuine entrepreneurs and have purchased plots with legitimate purpose. I feel there should not be any problem with them,” he said, admitting ‘there are several who have owned plots fraudulently and used them for speculation’.
Meanwhile, GSIA came to the rescue of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar over Congress allegations that Parrikar “misused his powers” as the GIDC chairman to allot plots to his son Abhijit. Sardesai said ‘there was no favouritism as far as plot allotment is concerned’.
“The allegations must have cropped up following Board’s decision to file criminal cases against all those involved in land scam,” he added.
Parrikar is a chairman of Goa Industrial Development Corporation.
Sardesai said that Abhijit, like others, had applied for the plots following the advertisement released in paper. “A three members committee, where I am also one of the members, scrutinized the applications that were received for plots in Tuem, Pissurlem and Kakoda industrial estates,” he said.
“Parrikar himself had called me and told that treat my son just like any other normal applicant and follow all procedures,” Sardessai stated.
