PANAJI: The Special court in Panaji acquitted Goa’s Transport and Panchayat minister Mauvin Godinho on Monday in connection with the two-decade old Power Rebate scam.
The minister, who was then holding the department of Power portfolio in the year 1998, was charged of granted rebate to the industrial units causing loss of Rs 4.52 crore to the state exchequer.
Then leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar had exposed the case and had filed the complaint against Godinho.
In a verdict pronounced on Monday in the open court, Special Court Judge Irshad Agha acquitted Godinho from the charges. Godinho was personally present in the court during the pronouncing of the verdict.
As per the chargesheet, a 25 per cent rebate on electricity tariffs was issued to industrial units under a notification dated 27 June 1998—allowing concessions from the moment electricity supply commenced.
This notification was issued when Mauvin Godinho served as the Power Minister.
Parrikar in his complaint before the state police had alleged that this rebate was granted without proper consultation of the state cabinet, which violated the Rules of Business governing government decisions.
Goa crime branch which was investigating the case had arrested Godinho in May 2001 along with former chief electrical engineer of Power Department, T Nagarajan.
In the year 2006, a special court framed charges against Godinho under Sections 13(1)(d)(i) and 13(1)(d)(ii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and Section 120B of the IPC.
