The Goa CBI Court on Monday adjourned to July 25 a hearing of the petition filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues seeking directions to the Anti Corruption Branch(ACB) of Goa Vigilance to register an F.I.R. against Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly Rajendra Arlekar in the disproportionate assets case.
The Goa Government had transferred all cases pending before the Special Court under the Prevention of Corruption Act to the CBI court but as the notification was not properly issued, the government will now have to re-issue the notification.
In his petition filed under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, >the activist lawyer has drawn the attention of the Court that by a sale deed dated August 26, 2013 Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly Arlekar purchased a 500 sq. mt. plot at Porvorim in north Goa paying Rs.72 lakhs and that the sale deed did not reveal the mode of payment as to whether the amount paid by him was in cash, cheque or draft.
Pointing out that in an affidavit filed by Mr. Arlekar on February 9, 2012 before the Chief electoral Officer (CEO), he had shown his income for the year 2010-2011 as Rs.2, 76,671 and that of his wife Anagha Deshpande Arlekar as Rs 5, 87,186, the petitioner has alleged that the purchase of the plot for Rs.72 lakhs by Mr. Arlekar was disproportionate to his last known source of income.
The petitioner also pointed out to the ACB that Mr. Arlekar, in his affidavit before the CEO had shown his total liabilities by way of loans, etc., as Rs.30,54,314 and further liabilities by way of Government dues as Rs.2,64,734 but that his statement of assets and liabilities filed on July 31, 2013 before the Goa Lokayukta did not show any liabilities.
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 complainant has accused the ACB officials of acting as caged parrots in trying to shield Mr. Arlekar.
Mr. Arlekar has already denied the charges, saying his plot was purchased through a loan taken from State Bank of India and there was no hanky panky in any of his deals.
