Leader of the Opposition Pratapsingh Rane and State Congress unit President Luizinho Faleiro who were summoned on Friday were interrogated by top ACB officials. Both leaders arrived at the Altinho office of ACB at around 10.00 am and left along with their respective counsels at around 1.30 pm.
“We have nothing to hide in this case. We have given our statement before the investigating agency,” Faleiro told Herald when asked whether this was a political move to put pressure on the Congress in view of the coming civic polls.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had on Thursday stated that Sunday’s civic polls are a semi -final for the BJP before the 2017 State Assembly polls. Summoning the two top leaders of the Congress just 48 hours before the civic polls has raised doubts on whether there can be any political motive. ACB initially had summoned the Congress leaders next week but suddenly advanced the questioning to Friday.
The case was registered against the two leaders in August 2012 at the ACB following a complaint from GIDC. Both have served as chief ministers in the past and at the time the land was allotted in 2005, Pratapsingh Rane was the chief minister and Luizinho Faleiro was the industries minister.
ACB had drawn a list of 20 people, including officers and politicians who were linked to the allotment of land to seven SEZs at throwaway prices. Then GIDC Chairman Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar has already been quizzed by ACB on couple of occasions.
Land measuring around 38 lakh square meters was acquired and illegally allotted to promoters under the SEZ scheme. The illegality was proved after a verdict by the High Court. The land is presently in litigation between the promoters and the Goa government. It is yet to be recovered and taken into possession leading to a huge setback to the State’s industrial expansion.
Following strong protests by locals and NGOs after the scam was exposed a PIL was filed in the High Court. In 2010 the HC set aside the allotment of land to the seven promoters and upheld the decision of the government to scrap the SEZ policy.
The promoters included K Raheja & Corporation, Maxgrow Finlease, Metitab Specialties, Peninsula Pharma Research Center, the Planetview Mercantile, Inox Mercantile Company and Paradigm Logistics & Distribution.
