Panaji: Hours after former Goa minister Pandurang Madkaikar claimed that he had paid a bribe of Rs 20 lakh to get his file cleared, the Congress party in Goa on Thursday wrote to State Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, demanding a high-level inquiry.
While Congress approached the Governor for action, a group of like-minded citizens has filed a complaint before the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Goa Police, demanding an investigation into the matter.
On Tuesday evening, Madkaikar told reporters that ministers in the Sawant-led cabinet were busy counting money. “I have personally paid a bribe of Rs 15-20 lakh to a minister’s Personal Assistant to get my file cleared,” said the former minister and current BJP leader.
Madkaikar made the statement after meeting BJP National General Secretary B L Santhosh in Panaji.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Vice President Sunil Kawthankar wrote to the Governor on Thursday, demanding a high-level inquiry into the matter.
Kawthankar questioned the government’s silence on the matter while speaking to reporters. He said that the chief minister should have filed an FIR in the matter and initiated an investigation. He warned that if the Governor fails to take action, the party will file a case in court to seek an investigation into this serious claim, which falls under the ambit of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Meanwhile, a group of like-minded citizens filed a formal complaint on Thursday with the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Goa Police, demanding an inquiry into the statement made by former minister Pandurang Madkaikar.
The complaint, filed by Kashinath Shetye, Inacio Pereira, Ramchandra Mayekar, John Nazareth, Premendra Vernekar, Mariano Ferrao, and others, has called for verification of the statement’s authenticity. They have demanded that if the statement is found to be true, a case should be registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the concerned government authority.
Reacting to the allegations, State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said that Madkaikar should not misuse the freedom of speech. He said that if he has paid the money, he should file a formal complaint against the concerned minister.
Godinho also urged Madkaikar to name the minister whose PA received the money.
