Panaji (Goa): The Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar alias Babu and his wife Savitri could soon be issued summons letter for questioning into huge wealth amassed disproportionate to their legal source of income.
The anti corruption branch (ACB) has laid their hands on foolproof evidences that Babu and the co-accused have amassed disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 4.78 crore approx, based on which it registered First Information Report (FIR) under section 13(2) read with 13(1) (e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
“Verification was carried out based on information received and it was revealed that former Goa Industrial Development Corporation Chairman Chandrakant Kavlekar has amassed wealth in the form of movable and immovable properties within and outside the state of Goa. He purchased around 14 different land properties worth crores of rupees in Kerala,” superintendent of police (ACB) Bosco George said addressing a press briefing amidst his teams conducting simultaneous raids at Kavlekar’s house, MLA office and commercial offices in the South Goa.
The ACB had started investigations against his assets including his properties in Kerala, in 2012 and submitted the preliminary inquiry report to the State government in 2013. The ACB then received a go-ahead to carry out an in-depth inquiry that has now culminated into FIR.
George told reporters that Babu failed to even disclosed the details of the properties in his asset and liability statement submitted before the institution of Goa Lokayukta from 2013 to 2015. The couple owns five companies including a resort in the South all of which are under the scanner.
During the inquiry, the ACB team has also come across another Rs 5.50 crore for which it could not get satisfactory reply from the Quepem MLA. George said, “Babu told us during the inquiry stage that he had obtained unsecured loan from three companies in Mumbai to purchase properties. Our investigation has not found anything to substantiate his claim. We suspect these are shell companies to cover up for his ill-gotten assets but nevertheless we are giving him another opportunity to explain the source of income,” he said.
The ACB officials said they would not hesitate to arrest Babu if he fails to produce documents to prove the income is legal.
Babu, presently in the neighboring district, has said he will cooperate with the investigation while denying he would apply for anticipatory bail. “Why should I apply for anticipatory bail? I have cooperated with the investigation in the past and will continue to do so. If the ACB is not satisfied with my replies, I will submit them the required information. I will reach Goa by this evening or tomorrow,” he said.
The family has refused to state whether the sudden development is a political stint. The Congress party has come in the support of its leader accusing the BJP-led coalition of politicizing the issue. “The FIR and raids are politically motivated. It is done with an ulterior motive because the BJP wants to strengthen the government by taking support from Congress MLAs. This is a threaten tactic to leave Congress and join the BJP,” party’s State president Shantaram Naik told a press briefing a while ago. The BJP on the other hand has distanced itself from reacting on the development whereas Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar denied allegations of political vendetta against the Congress MLA claiming police action is only after collecting evidences. He asked Babu to declare his assets are legal, a reaction that comes soon after Congress president’s criticism .
