“The Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) should reopen the investigation particularly keeping in view the possibility of conspiracy and any kickback. The question of referring the matter to CBI for investigation may be considered by the government,” reads the order by Goa Lokayukta Justice P K Misra.

In his complaint on May 18, 2015, activist Advocate Aires Rodrigues had sought that an FIR be registered against Parulekar, Managing Director of Goa Tourism Development Corporation Nikhil Dessai, owner of Ram Engineering and Construction Company and Bhumika Clean Tech Pvt Ltd Manish Mohata; and Avdhoot Parrikar, brother of then defense minister Manohar Parrikar in connection with the alleged multi-crore scam. The complaint was filed with the anti corruption branch.

He had alleged that under the scientific beach cleaning, the contract was awarded to the little known companies at a very exorbitant rate of Rs14.56 crores annually while for the previous years the beach cleaning cost the State government an average of Rs 2 crores annually.

The scam was also exposed by then Opposition legislator and present minister Rohan Khaunte who alleged that Parulekar, directors and deputy directors of tourism department – holding respective charge since January 2013 – and the two beach cleaning contractors were involved for defrauding State exchequer to the tune of Rs 14 crore. Armed with supporting documents including details obtained under Right To Information Act, Khaunte had lodged a 17-page complaint with the Lokayukta last year.

 “The whole fraud is a premeditated exercise of the Tourism Department and Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar. Many of the directors were involved in making payment at the behest of the minister, although fully aware that it was a fraud and there were kick backs to all involved. Besides the directors of Bhumika Cleantech Services Pvt. Ltd. and Ram clearners and Developers Pvt Ltd have conspired to defraud the exchequer,” he had said.

The legislator had also suggested 39 names including then Defense Minister and present Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar, then Chief Secretary (acting) R K Srivastav, former tourism director Ameya Abhyankar and Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s former MD Nikhil Desai, as witnesses who could provide inputs for the probe.

The tender was awarded to two companies  namely Bhumika Cleantech Services Pvt. Ltd. for North Goa and Ram Cleaners  and Developers Pvt. Ltd. for South Goa, both of which had common directors and located in the same premises in Panaji. With a typist and one attendant, the now-minister had alleged the companies did not qualify for the tender, but the terms and conditions of the tender were manipulated and changed to suit the said two contractors. In fact these contractors also tendered for the Beach Safety and Life guarding tender despite no experience and were also allowed to participate in the tendering process without being qualified