TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Adv Aires Rodrigues Saturday filed a complaint with the Supreme Court of India over the corruption case against former Power Minister and now Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho not having come up for hearing for the last three years.
In his complaint faxed to the Registrar General of the Supreme Court, Adv Aires Rodrigues has drawn the attention that the case against Mauvin Godinho last came for hearing on January 30, 2011, and has not come up since for hearing, despite the Court order that the matter be expedited.
In his Special Leave Petition No 6950 filed in 2007, Mauvin Godinho had challenged the order passed by the Bombay High Court directing framing of charges against him in the power scam case.
It may be recalled that by an order dated October 26, 2007, then Bombay High Court at Goa Justice Nelson Britto had directed framing of charges against Mauvin Godinho under Section 13(1) (d) (i) and (iii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 read with Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code in connection with the alleged power scam case.
Justice Nelson Britto had in his order noted that the charges against Mauvin Godinho came to be investigated and charge sheet filed based on a complaint filed by Manohar Parrikar and that it appeared that the case took different turns depending upon which government was in power in Goa.
Expressing concern that the case has not come for hearing for over three years, Adv Rodrigues has requested the Registrar General of the Supreme Court to probe whether Mauvin Godinho has intentionally managed for his political convenience to keep the matter in cold storage or whether the file itself has gone missing.
Pointing out that the Supreme Court in a recent order has directed that cases pertaining to corruption against politicians should be all fast tracked, Adv Rodrigues has expressed apprehension that Mauvin Godinho with his former foe now turned friend Manohar Parrikar who was the complainant may be now conniving together to sabotage the case.
