The judge had declined to transfer the criminal case against former chief minister Manohar Parrikar and Nilesh Amonkar pertaining to the fraudulent renting of the ‘Spaces’ building from being heard in the same building.
Drawing the High Court’s attention that it would not be proper and conducive that the case pertaining to Spaces building be heard by a court seating in that very premises, Rodrigues urged the High Court to hear the case or transfer it to any other Court preferably in South Goa in the interest of justice and to ensure there is no room for any conflict of interest.
Justice Shukre adjourned the hearing to February 15 while staying proceedings in the case currently pending before Panjim Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashley Noronha located at Spaces building.
In a complaint filed on February 6, 2014 at Panjim Police Station, Rodrigues had alleged that Parrikar and Amonkar committed offences under sections 420, 406, 409 read with Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code by having conspired, cheated and caused loss to the State exchequer in the fraudulent renting of office premises at ‘Spaces’ and ‘Kamat Towers’ at Patto Plaza at an exorbitant annual rent of over Rs 5.5 crore.
