Congress says case against its Goa leader is 'political vendetta'

Goa Congress said registration of a criminal case against its leader and former minister Nilkant Halarnkar is an example of "political vendetta" and more such instances are expected as the Assembly election in the state approaches.

"It is not surprising that more and more cases are being filed against the leaders of Opposition parties. The BJP, ruling at the Centre and the state, is known for its intolerance and political vendetta," Goa Congress chief Luizinho Faleiro claimed.

Halarnka, Goa Congress' vice-president and former Tourism Minister, and Inspector General of Prisons Elvis Gomes were booked on Wednesday by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in connection with a land conversion case in Margao town near here.

"With the Assembly elections nearing (likely in March next year), more such cases are likely to be filed by the BJP-led government against its opponents," Faleiro claimed, adding mere filing of an FIR does not make Halarnkar guilty.

"I will seek clarification from Halarnkar in the matter," he said.

The matter relates to the time when Halarnkar was the Chairman of Goa Housing Board and Gomes was its Managing Director.

According to the ACB, they allegedly acquired a piece of land, changed its 'zoning' (purpose of usage) to residential and gave it back to the owner. The offence took place between 2007-2011 and involves 30,000 square metre land in Margao.

The Board acquired the land for building residential units and got its zoning changed from 'orchard' to 'settlement'. The whole exercise was a conspiracy to get the zoning changed into residential (which would increase the land's market value), and then hand over the plot back to the owner, the ACB claimed.

The duo was booked under IPC Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) and also relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Halarnkar, who was then in NCP, recently joined Congress.