PANJIM: In an interesting development a lady from Morjim has lodged a complaint at Pernem police station against Water Resources Minister Dayanand Mandrekar and his son Samir Mandrekar for abetting the suicide of her husband and father-in-law.
The complaint, which was submitted on December 10, has still not been registered by Pernem police.
In her complaint, Priya Nilesh Mitbowkar, stated that Mandrekar and his son Samir are responsible for the suicide committed by her husband on November 26 as he under duress was pressurised to take the extreme step due to harassment.
She stated that Mandrekar wanted them to be evicted from the property bearing survey no 182/4 of Morjim Village where they have been residing for last 50 years.
“Mandrekar and his son purchased this property from the original owners few years ago and since he is a minister in the present government, he constantly harassed the family by using his position to demolish our structure as he has already proposed a star hotel in the property,” the complainant said. She added, “He has already misused his official position to direct the revenue authorities such as mamlatdar and deputy collector to pass orders in his favours.”
She said Mandrekar also disconnected her electrical connection, leaving them with no money to run the family with young kids.
Further, she stated, “My husband had no means or money to fight this unscrupulous minister and his goons and therefore Mandrekar and his son are responsible for his death and need to be under the bars.”
The complainant also claimed that her husband had warned Mandrekar that he would take this extreme step of suicide if he did not stop harassing him.
“Likewise my father-in-law and brother-in-law also committed suicide two years ago on the same issue,” she said.
Priya Mitbowkar also stated that she is now left with two kids who are less than five years old and she fears that if no action is taken she would be left homeless.
She has also approached the Human Rights Commission and has vowed to see the minister and his son behind bars.
CM Parsekar should sack Mandrekar to ensure fair probe, says Kerkar
Social activist Tara Kerkar, chairperson of NGO Savera, has demanded that Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar immediately sack Dayanand Mandrekar from the cabinet for a fair probe in the matter.
“Abettment of suicide is a serious issue and if there has to be a fair probe than Mandrekar should either step down or chief minister should sack him for now,” she told Herald.
Kerkar questioned why Mandrekar had bought the property when he knew that it was tenanted land. “The tenants were paying taxes regularly and still illegally their name has been deleted from Form I & XIV,” she alleged.
It is a political conspiracy: Mandrekar
Stating that the complaint has been filed with mala fide intentions, Water Resources Minister Dayanand Mandrekar said “it is a political conspiracy hatched by his rivals”.
”It is a false complaint, whatever the truth is will come out soon. I have all the papers to prove that I am the rightful owner of the property. My name is being simply dragged into the controversy,” he said.
Asked why he purchased the property when he knew it was tenanted, he replied, “I bought that property in 2002 and they went to the civil court and placed their grievances but still nothing has happened for them.”
On the demolition of their small shop, he shot back, “What will you do if somebody encroaches on your land. Will you keep quiet?”
He added, “There is no connection between the demolition and the suicide as the structures were demolished two and half years ago and the suicide was committed last month. Now I do not understand this connection.”
“If I had tortured, harassed and threatened them, then the neighbours would know, just inquire if I ever come there. Why are the people from Vasco, Siolim and Margao interfering? This shows it is a political game to defame me and my son,” he said.
