The Navhind Times Goa News
NT NETWORK
Panaji
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that an inquiry has been launched into Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai’s assets and properties, which increased 500 times in five years – from 2007 to 2012.
Addressing media persons on Monday, Sawant rejected the allegations made against him by Sardesai over the purchase of land running into crores of square metre in Dodamarg taluka of Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra.
Throwing light on the alleged phenomenal rise in the assets of the Goa Forward Party chief, the Chief Minister said the affidavits filed by Sardesai before the Election Commission in 2007 and 2012 clearly indicate that his income increased 500 times in five years.
“As per the affidavits, Sardesai’s income was Rs 5.4 crore in 2007 and in 2012 it was Rs 25.21 crore,” Sawant claimed, adding that an inquiry over the assets of the Fatorda MLA has already begun.
Sardesai’s allegations are totally baseless and have been aimed to misguide the people, the Chief Minister maintained, clarifying that the land he purchased in Dodamarg does not run into crores of square metre but just 21,000 square metre.
The deal was executed legally, he claimed.
“I purchased two pieces of land: 3,200 square metre of land worth Rs 36 lakh and 17,000 square metre of land worth Rs 14 lakh. I purchased the land legally through bank loans,” he explained.
Calling Sardesai and Goa pradesh Congress committee president Girish Chodankar as liars, Sawant said the allegations against him have been aimed at maligning his image, and that the Opposition does not have issues to corner the government.
Sawant threatened to file a defamation suit against the former deputy chief minister if the latter does not stop making allegations over the Dodamarg land deal.
“I have sought legal opinion from my advocate over false allegations made by Sardesai,” Sawant disclosed, claiming that he has been “very clean” and has not done anything wrong in the last eight months while leading the government.
The Chief Minister alleged that Sardesai has been selling properties to outsiders and working against the interest of Goa.
“I ensure the people of Goa that my every action is in interest of Goa,” he said, revealing that he had dropped Sardesai-led group from the cabinet as the GFP ministers were not working in the interest of the state.