Although the Purumentache Fest took place on May 19 and over 20 days have passed since Rs 17.66 lakh feast fair collection has gone missing, why has no police complaint been filed by the Margao Municipal Council over the scam?
Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar who had been literally blamed by the MMC Chairperson on Wednesday by saying it is an administrative failure, reported for work on Tuesday. He said he was on leave for two weeks. He said the LDC had already been suspended. They are reconciling the accounts and will file the police complaint in a day or two. He said it was one day’s collection and over Rs 10.5 lakh of the previous day were deposited in the bank.
Five questions arise in the entire saga of the feast fair scam at MMC — Though over20 days have passed, why has no police complaint been filed by MMC? Why are both Chairperson and Chief Officer passing the buck? Why was the chief officer missing? How could such a big scam take place under the nose of the chairperson and the chief officer? How could such a big amount be deposited in just one account of the LDC?
Convenor of Shadow Council Margao Savio Coutinho said it was very difficult to recover the amount. He blamed the Chief officer for not being transparent. Worse still the receipt has been issued by the market inspector and the cash was taken by LDC, he stated. Coutinho said the suspension was a farce. He said the suspended LDC would continue to get half pay and then he would be regularized.
