Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Panji The Crime Branch of Goa Police on Thursday submitted before Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in north Goa that Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar was summoned on September 13 and his statement recorded at the Crime Branch office in connection with the FIR registered against him in the Serula Communidade land grab case.
Communidade is an old, unique village land commune institution inherited by Goa, an erstwhile Portuguese colony.
As directed by the courts, the Investigating Officer of the Crime Branch, while filing his third status report of the investigation into the case sought further time to investigate.
Petitioner Aires Rodrigues, however, submitted before the JMFC that the whole investigation was mere eyewash and pleaded that the Crime Branch officers be hauled up for contempt of court by referring the matter to the High Court under Section 15 (2) the Contempt of Courts Act. After hearing arguments, the JMFC adjourned the matter to October 7 for her order.
On an application filed by Adv. Rodrigues, the Mapusa JMFC on August 14 had directed the Crime Branch to file a status report every 15 days on the investigation into the F.I.R of cheating that was registered on January 17 this year against the Minister in the 599 sq mt Serula Communidade land grab case.
Pointing out to the JMFC that the police were deliberately flouting Court orders when the accused are politically well-connected, Adv. Rodrigues had sought that the Court monitor the investigation as the accused was politically very influential and the Tourism Minister of the State.
On a petition filed by Adv. Rodrigues under Section 156 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the Mapusa JMFC had on January 16 this year had directed the Porvorim Police to register an FIR against Mr. Parulekar, Mr. Peter Martins, then attorney of Communidade of Serula and Ms. Irene Sequeira, then Administrator of Communidade of Bardez and to investigate the matter. The Porvorim Police accordingly registered an F.I.R on January 17 and then later on April 4 transferred the investigation of the case to the Crime Branch.
The original complaint is that a 599 sq mt of prime land at Porvorim in north Goa is given away to Mr. Parulekar was without any auction and without following the procedure contemplated under the Code of Communidade.
