Goa Lokayukta seeks status report in minister's DA probe

The Goa Lokayukta on Thursday directed Goa Chief Secretary and the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Goa Police to file a status report on a disproportionate assets complaint filed against Goa Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar and his wife Janita.

In a directive, the Goa Lokayukta has said that the status report on the probe conducted by the ACB should be submitted to office of the anti-graft institution by August 9.

"Such status report should be submitted so as to reach this institution on or before August 9. The matter shall be taken up for further preliminary enquiry on August 9 at 11.30 a.m.," Lokayukta Justice P.K. Mishra has said in the order.

In his complaint filed before the ACB, the complainant Aires Rodrigues -- a city based lawyer -- had alleged that Madkaikar, had constructed a bungalow which according to the complainant was allegedly valued at Rs 200 crore and had demanded a probe under sections 13(1)(d)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code.

Madkaikar is currently hospitalised in Mumbai after he suffered a brain-stroke last month.

Rodrigues had also stated that in his income tax returns for the year 2015-16, Madkaikar had declared his total annual income as Rs 1.44 lakh and his wife had declared an income of Rs 24,389.

Madkaikar had rejected the allegations, claiming all the documentation regarding the construction of the bungalow located near the iconic Basilica of Bom Jesus church complex was valid and the construction was carried out using legally earned source of income.

--IANS

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