Deputy Speaker must resign over son’s fake BA degree demands Aires

Adv. Aires Rodrigues has today demanded that Goa’s Deputy Speaker Isidore Fernandes must immediately resign as MLA for his son Raymond Fernandes having submitted a fake BA degree in January this year in an attempt to secure the post of Awal Karkun at the North Goa Collectorate.

Stating that elected representatives should lead by example and be ideal role models, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the whole conspiracy of submitting a fake degree certificate by Raymond Fernandes could not have been done without the active collusion with his father and Deputy Speaker Isidore Fernandes. Adv. Rodrigues has further state that the people of Goa are entitled to know the modus operandi adopted by Raymond Fernandes to procure that fake BA degree.

Recalling that during the ZP election campaign at Canacona in March Isidore Ferandes had publicly claimed that the BA degree of his son Raymond Fernandes was genuine and that he would give the necessary clarification and documentary evidence once he returns to Panaji, Adv. Rodrigues has stated that the now stoic silence by the Deputy Speaker on the issue is deafening. Adv. Rodrigues has also stated that the failure of Raymond Fernandes to reply to the show cause notice issued to him by the North Goa Collector is to be considered as a presumption of guilt.

Adv. Rodrigues has reiterated that the North Goa Collector must file an F.I.R at the Panaji Police Station against Raymond Fernandes for having submitted a fake BA degree along with his application for the post of Awal Karkun.

Stating that the BA degree certificate from Lucknow based Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad was submitted by Raymond Fernandes knowing very well that it was forged and fabricated, Adv. Rodrigues has pointed out that in terms of Section 471 of the Indian Penal Code it is a cognizable offence for whoever fraudulently or dishonestly uses as genuine any document which he knows is a forged document.

Adv. Rodrigues has stated that if the BJP permits Isidore Fernandes to continue as MLA it would show the complicity of the BJP in perpetuating frauds and would be an imprimatur that the BJP is the refuge and den of criminal activities.

Adv. Rodrigues has also stated that stringent action in this matter would send a strong and deterrent message to those venturing to hoodwink the authorities by submitting forged and fabricated educational certificates.