ACB to quiz Goa tourism minister in land scam

Goa Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) has initiated probe into a land scam involving Goa Housing Minister Nilkant Halankar.

While the past Goa Housing Board members are being questioned, ACB will soon quiz Halankar, who is also the state tourism minister.

?Acting on a complaint we have initiated a preliminary inquiry. We will soon question the minister, as the complainants had alleged that the GHB land was allotted to a trust owned by Halankar,? ACB officials said.

Local activist Kashinath Shetye and 12 others had alleged land conversion scam at Colvale, 25 kms from here.

?The land at Colvale was acquired at the instance of GHB for the purpose of housing projects of the Board but soon thereafter it was allotted to Nilkant Halankar Trust, an entity owned by the minister himself,? the complainants alleged in their letter to ACB last month.

Interestingly, Halankar is currently embroiled in the state politics with NCP high command demanding his resignation to induct former tourism minister and NCP legislator Francisco Pacheco.

Halankar and another NCP legislator Philip D?Souza is facing inquiry for lobbying with Congress leaders in an alleged attempt to dethrone Goa Government.

Vigilance officials said that a case under Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code will be registered only after offenses against the minister are proved.

The complainants estimated a loss of more than Rs 57 lakh to the state exchequer. Pointing out irregularity in another land deal at Colvale under the minister?s trust, the complainants alleged that Halankar allotted 23,000 m2 at a throwaway price of Rs 1000 per m2 which is infact worth about Rs 4,200 per m2 to an institute of hotel management and the ownership is not known.

The loss in this case is quoted at Rs 7.36 crores.