Special Judge under the Prevention of Corruption B.P Deshpande on Thursday reserved to December 1 his verdict in the disproportionate assets case against Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Rajendra Arlekar.
The final arguments in the case concluded on Thursday.
In his petition under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, activist lawyer Aires Rodrigues has questioned Mr. Arlekar's purchase of a 500 sq mt plot at Porvorim on a payment of Rs. 72 lakhs saying that the sale deed did not reveal the mode of payment as to whether the amount paid by Rajendra Arlekar was in cash, cheque or draft.
Comparing the affidavit filed by Mr. Arlekar before Goa’s Chief Electoral officer on February 9, 2012 ahead of State Legislative Assembly election of Marc3, 2012 with the his statement of assets and liabilities filed on July 31, 2013 before the Goa Lokayukta, the petitioner has accused his purchase of plot to be disproportionate to his last known source of income.
He has also alleged that Mr. Arlekar has concealed the real income earned by him from his HP petrol pump dealership “Om Shree Vetobaa” at Vasco in south Goa, and has sought a probe to verify the income details submitted by Mr. Arlekar’s wife who is a school teacher.
Seeking directions of the Court that Mr. Arlekar be booked under Section 13 (1) (d) & (e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and Section 120-B of IPC along with Section 34 of IPC, the activist has accused the Anti Corruption Branch of State police, which was probing the case prima facie after complaint was lodged with them, of acting as caged parrots in shielding Mr. Arlekar owing to his political status.
