Anti corruption sleuths zeroing in on ex SDM Shabaji Shetye’s unique money making files

VIBHA VERMA

vibha@herald-goa.com

Panjim: The anti corruption branch, investigating gross irregularities in the office of the Mapusa sub divisional magistrate, has stumbled upon crucial evidence which may spell serious trouble for deputy collector Sabaji Shetye, some of his faithful talathis and dealing hands. 

During his tenure until recently, the ACB has figured that Shetye’s office devised a novel way to demand financial gratification from locals and NRIs who applied for partition of properties, demarcation or resurvey. 

Salient features of the application typed on a separate paper sheet and pinned on the file, along with a handwritten remark of Shetye “Please speak” was a sign for the applicant that it meant “please settle”. The ACB in its investigations have almost concluded that such cases were indeed “settled” with money. 

Senior official sources in the ACB revealed, “The concerned dealing hand was tasked with picking salient features of the application before forwarding the file to his higher up. A remark on it “Please speak” was an indication of bribe.” Herald has a copy of some files with the “please speak” notings.

A complaint to the Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza, who holds the revenue portfolio, spilled the beans resulting in a surprise raid on the offices of the Sub Divisional Magistrate. “There were various complaints from locals and NRIs after which, it was decided that Revenue Minister be informed about rampant corruption in the SDM office. He soon forwarded the letter – which had compilation of all the individual complaints – to the chief vigilance officer (Chief Secretary R K Srivastava) for action. The vigilance department was thereafter directed to investigate the matter,” a secretariat official said. 

The sleuths seized 50-odd files with proof containing “Please speak” noting on the note sheets. Of the total, majority are regarding the property partition followed by resurvey and demarcation files.  

ACB sources said that these notings were made even on files which were submitted with proper documentation. Sources said some would accept the demand to ensure their work is not further delayed. “The ploy was to keep the matter pending and summon the concerned party for hearing. It was then the applicant would be asked to “quote the price” for clearing the file. Some would accept and some turn it down,” he said. 

This has prompted ACB to summon dealing hands with one of them already questioned. Talathis of the Bardez taluka are the next in the queue, for they allegedly showed several structures in the CRZ as prior to 1991 to avoid demolition though the facts are otherwise. “We have identified the staffers allegedly involved in the corrupt practices,” the officer added. 

To add to their woes, the applicants may also be called as witnesses to assist the probe.  

When Sub Divisional Magistrates captain a team of corrupt officials down the line, the zero tolerance to corruption slogan of Mr Parrikar sounds jarring, painful and detached from reality.