After Tamil Nadu’s Jayalalithaa will Goa Speaker Rajendra Arlekar’s disproportionate assets case give him the distinction of landing up as the first guest at the upcoming Goa Central Jail at Colvale?
*On 9th February 2012* in an affidavit filed before the Chief Electoral Officer Rajendra Arlekar had shown his income for the year 2010-2011 as Rs 2,76,671 and that of his wife Anagha Deshpande Arlekar who is a school teacher as Rs 5,87,186. Rajendra Arlekar prima facie concealed the real income earned by him from his HP petrol pump dealership “Om Shree Vetobaa” located at Vasco. In that affidavit he had shown his total liabilities by way of loans etc as Rs 30,54,314 and further liabilities by way of Government dues as Rs 2,64,734. *On 31st July 2013* in his statement of assets and liabilities filed before the Goa Lokayukta his liabilities were shown as nil. Within a short span of just over a year after becoming Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly how was he able to clear his huge liabilities of over 33 lakhs? The income of Rajendra Arlekar’s wife which was Rs 5,87,186 in 2010-2011 shot up to Rs 9,32,278 in the year 2012-2013. *On 26th August 2013* Speaker Rajendra Arlekar purchased a 500 sq mt plot at Porvorim on a payment of Rs 72 lakhs. Sale deed does not reveal the mode of payment, whether amount was paid by cash, cheque, or draft. He also paid an amount of Rs 2,52,000 towards stamp duty and a further Rs 2,16,280 as registration and processing fees of that Sale deed. It has been sought that Rajendra Arlekar be booked under Section 13 (1) (d) & (e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and Section 120-B of IPC along with Section 34 of IPC. If the investigation reveals that Rajendra Arlekar has further bought any other properties his vows would only compound. For a truly Swachh Goa there first needs to be an absolute Zero Tolerance to Corruption. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires