Special Judge under the Prevention of Corruption B.P Deshpande today fixed for 15th December his verdict in the disproportionate assets case against Rajendra Arlekar the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly. The final arguments and additional submissions in the case concluded today.
The case was earlier heard and fixed for judgment by CBI Court Judge PV. Sawaikar but just two days before the scheduled judgment the Goa Government by an order stripped Judge Sawaikar of his powers to hear matters under the Prevention of Corruption Act. By a sale deed dated 26th August last year Speaker Rajendra Arlekar purchased a 500 sq mt plot at Porvorim on a payment of Rs 72 lakhs. The sale deed did not reveal the mode of payment as to whether the amount paid by Rajendra Arlekar was in cash, cheque or draft. Besides the 72 lakhs Rajendra Arlekar 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. In an affidavit filed by Rajendra Arlekar before Goa’s Chief Electoral officer on 9th February 2012 he 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. The purchase of the plot for 72 lakhs by Rajendra Arlekar is therefore clearly disproportionate to his last known source of income. Rajendra Arlekar in that affidavit 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 but his statement of assets and liabilities filed on 31st July 2013 before the Goa Lokayukta does not show any liabilities. Mr. Arlekar needs to explain as to how within a short span of just over a year after becoming Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly he was able to clear his huge liabilities of Rs 30,54,314 and also liabilities by way of Government dues of Rs 2,64,734. Rajendra Arlekar in his affidavit on 9th February 2012 had shown his total income for the year 2010-2011 as a mere Rs 2,76,671 which prima facie reveals that Rajendra Arlekar concealed the real income earned by him from his HP petrol pump dealership “Om Shree Vetobaa” at Vasco. It also needs to be investigated as to how the total income of Rajendra Arlekar’s wife Anagha Deshpande Arlekar who is a school teacher which was Rs 5,87,186 in 2010-2011 had shot up to Rs 9,32,278 in the year 2012-2013. 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. The Court has also been urged to monitor the investigation as the police were acting as caged parrots in shielding Rajendra Arlekar. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires
