vibha verma
PANJIM: The State government remains indecisive on re-investigating the highly controversial beach cleaning scam involving then Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, stating it is examining the issue.
The Anti Corruption Branch (ACB), investigating high profile cases of corruption, including the recent FIR alleging disproportionate assets against Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar, was criticised by the Lokayukta over improper inquiry into the beach cleaning scam.
ACB’s inquiry into the complaint filed by Advocate Aires Rodrigues had cleared Parulekar stating that no case was made out, an observation that came under sharp criticism from certain sections.
Slamming ACB for not having conducted a proper inquiry, Lokayukta Justice P K Misra recommended the reopening the investigation particularly keeping in view the possibility of conspiracy and any kickbacks. The order also gave the government liberty to consider referring the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a probe.
However, the State government is still examining the multi-crore scam to take a final call on the recommendation. “All the concerned are examining the advice of the Lokayukta as well as ACB’s inquiry. We will require some time to decide on how to move ahead in this case,” a senior bureaucrat at Secretariat told Herald.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is also on record claiming that government would examine the issue of handing over the complaint to the CBI within the stipulated period of three months.
ACB’s inquiry had claimed that the complaint was without any supportive evidence pointing to corruption while also alleging that witnesses are without any concrete proof.
“The complainant has raised a number of issues in the tender against a number of persons without any supportive evidence towards the corruption angle. However, a number of technical issues raised in the complaint have been dealt with in the enquiry caused so far, as such the same are required to be ascertained/verified technically,” reads an extract from the inquiry report.
Inquiry Officer PI Wilson D’Souza had further stated that ‘the witnesses raised number of general issues pertaining to carrying out of beach cleaning activities in North and South Goa by agencies on a larger aspect alleging failure on the part of staff of Department of Tourism with regards to supervision over the beach cleaning activities by the agencies as well as failure on part of the agencies in carrying out the activities of beach cleaning as per the terms and conditions laid down in the tender documents. From the documents produced it appears that the witnesses have gone through a lot of exercise to keep a check on beach cleaning activities. However, the allegations addressed by the witnesses are without any concrete proof and do not therefore fall within the purview of the Prevention of Corruption Act.”
To verify allegations of the beach cleaning contract amount raised from Rs 2 crore to Rs 14 cr, the Vigilance ACB had then sent it to the technical wing wherein the Technical Examiner of Director of Vigilance Shashikant Kamat had said, “No case can be made out as far as vigilance angle for tendering involved.”
The Lokayukta, however, took serious cognizance of the matter recommending a relook at the case.
