NGO gives police deadline till Monday for FIR against Minister

Panaji, Jan 4 (UNI) Goan NGO Utt Goenkara has today threatened to move the Bombay High Court at Goa if the city police fails to register an FIR against IT Minister and Chairman of Info Tech Corporation Dayanand Narvekar nu January 7 on the basis of the complaint filed against him alleging criminal misappropriation, fraud and criminal breach of trust.

Addressing a press conference today, the NGO spokesman Adv Aires Rodrigues stated that though the complaint against the IT Minister was filed on December 24 last, the police under political pressure were not acting as required by the law against the minister to probe the real estate fraud in the name of IT Park at Dona Paula beach.

Adv Rodrigues also stated that it was improper of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, to entrust the crucial Law portfolio to a person who has criminal cases pending against him.

The complaint filed under section 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and also sections 406 and 409 IPC pertains to the giving away of 1,80,000 square meters of land by the Info Tech Corporation headed by Dayanand Narvekar at an average rate of Rs 4,500 per sq mt as against prevailing rates ranging between between Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000 per sq mt.

The complaint has also been filed against Vice-Chairman, Info Tech Corporation Ltd and Mr Shantaram Shet, Managing Director, Info Tech Corporation Ltd.

Adv Rodrigues has in his complaint stated that Narvekar and the others, without conducting any auction or issuing any tenders gave away a prime land at a throw away price thus defrauding the public exchequer to a tune of several crores of Rupees.

Meanwhile, Panaji sub-divisional police officer Mr Mohan S Naik, had in a letter dated yesterday, to Mr Rodrigues, said the case was referred to higher officials for sending it to the Vigilance Department for necessary action as it pertained to Prevention of Corruption Act.

UNI BM SR DS AS157