Impact: Goa govt probes land mafia

Goa: A month after CNN-IBN special investigation revealed blatant misuse of the FDI route by Russian nationals to snap prime land in Goa, the state government has initiated an inquiry into all the deals that involve foreigners

Over 400 land purchases in Goa involve foreign nationals. CNN-IBN found out that the Russian land Mafia has been involved in many of these deals in the state. In fact, former Goa Minister Babush Monserrate was caught on camera taking a bribe for legalizing land conversions deals, thereby letting the fraudulent companies operate unchecked. The newly formed Goa Government has now promised an inquiry into the matter.

Most of the land deals in Goa have been violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act of Reserve Bank of India. CNN-IBN investigation revealed that lawyers helped the Russian Mafia invest large amounts of money in Goa land, taking advantage of the fact that FDI in real estate gets automatic approval.

A lawyer also told CNN-IBN that former town and country planning minister Atanasio Monsarrat, popularly known as Babush, took Rs 12 lakh bribe for such a land deal.

Goa CM Digamber Kamat has asked Chief Secretary J P singh to prepare a full status report. Singh, in turn, has asked a sub-committee of RBI officials and secretary level state officials to submit this report within ten days.

“This will indicate the careful examination of all those 400 odd cases which had come to our notice and any other case that comes to our notice in the meantime. Based on the status report, we will decide what action is to be taken,” said J P Singh, Chief Secretary, Goa

Activists in Goa have welcomed this move. Oscar Rebello, who spearheaded the movement against sale of land to outsiders, says all violators should be booked.

“I’m glad that the chief minister and the chief secretary making the right noises and the right moves. We only hope now that they walk the talk and take this to the right conclusion,” said Dr Oscar Rebello, Convenor, Goa Bachao Abhiyan

This move of state Government can upset equations of many heavyweights in Goa and perhaps the order can cause real political tremors for this Congress led government.