It looks like the new political war has started in Goa. According to the sources, the announcement of AAP’s candidate for the chief ministerial candidate made the ruling government feel insecure and it resulted in issue of the notice by ACB (Anti-Corruption Branch) to two people from the political arena. Mr. Elvis Gomes who has newly joined the politics after retiring from his government job and former NCP legislature Mr. Nilkant Halarnkar.This is the general practice in the political circle. There are only two types of people safe in the politics, one who is ruling and other is their supporters. Rest all have to face some or the other litigations or jail terms. Something similar has happened in this case too. According to the sources, The anti-corruption branch (ACB) of the directorate of vigilance on Thursday issued summons to former housing board minister Nilkant Halarnkar and former managing director (MD) of Goa Housing Board and AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Elvis Gomes to appear before the ACB on December 26 in an alleged land scam case.
The NCP leader Nilkanth Halarnkar and Elvis Gomes, former Goa Housing Board managing director had been alleged for handing over land acquired by the Board in 2009 for the purpose of building a housing colony, to a private party, one Vincent Gracious who claimed to be an agriculturist, and in turn later commercially developed the same plot. A case under section 120 (B) and 420 of IPC along with other sections of prevention of corruption act 1988 was filed in June 2016. However, Elvis Gomes maintained his stand that he was not even appointed in the department when alleged land scam happened.
According to the sources, the summons issued by ACB under the section 41 of CrPC states the following “You are hereby issued a notice to remain present at ACB office without fail for the purpose of investigation. Further, you are directed not to tamper with the evidence for the fair investigation. If you fail to remain present, strict action will be initiated against you”. The sources have also stated that the summons has been issued within the weeks time after the AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal announced the name of Mr. Gomes for party’s chief ministerial candidate for the 2017 elections and that says it all.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gomes has termed this as “Frivolous Prosecution” against him. According to the sources, ACB had booked the cases of corruption against Mr. Halarnkar and Gomes under section 420 (cheating) and section 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy) of the IPC and various sections of the prevention of corruption Act, 1988. An ACB officer said summons were also issued to former revenue minister Jose Philip D’ Souza to appear before it on December 27 for the investigation in the case
The political vengeance is the name of the game which is a continuous process. If you are not in the ruling then you become the victim. It has started by the former ruling government and its continuation is taken care by the existing government.
