PANJIM: In a major relief to the Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader Elvis Gomes, the Goa government has stated it has no evidence to charge-sheet him in the Goa Housing Board scam at the time when he served as the Director of Department of Urban Development.
“During the course of investigation the role of the then MD (Managing Director) Elvis Gomes against whom the complainant had alleged was thoroughly investigated. The case papers of this case were referred to the DoP (Director of Prosecution), who opined that there was no iota of evidence documentary or otherwise to send charge-sheet against the then Government official Elvis Gomes under the various sections he was charged,” the State, represented by Public Prosecutor S R Rivonkar submitted before the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
Gomes had challenged the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Anti Corruption Branch accusing him of involvement in the land conversion case at Margao. The FIR was also registered against the then GHB Chairman Nilkanth Halarnkar. Gomes, who took voluntary retirement from the government service in 2016, had moved the court seeking quashing of the FIR stating he was posted in the GHB in May 2011 whereas the decision was taken earlier.
Based on the status report by the government, the Division Bench of Justice M S Sonak and Justice Nutan Sardessai observed that it was clear that there is no iota of evidence, documentary or otherwise to file any indictment against Gomes. “So also according to the prosecution, there is no case to file any charge-sheet against the remaining accused persons, as well,” it said while disposing of the petition.
Reacting to the order, the AAP leader, who was recently announced as South Goa Lok Sabha candidate, claimed that people were aware that BJP-led government was known for creating files against political opponents.
“Attempt at creating a similar file by filing false and fabricated case against me has fallen flat and the rope thrown around my neck had snapped even before it could get tightened,” he said adding that the government had created a lot of such files against many MLAs from the opposition as well a few from the ruling so as to muzzle their voices and keep them pinned down.
AAP leader Valmiki Naik said that the Narendra Modi government had created a record of sorts by filing 140 different cases against AAP MLAs in Delhi out of which 70 are disposed of by various courts, acquitting the accused MLAs and at the same time resulting in the courts passing severe strictures against the police.
