On Thursday, Goa Lokayukta, Justice P K Mishra, on his last day, initiated proceedings against legislator from ruling party,BJP-Pandurang Madkaikar in a disproportionate assets case. He also pulled up the state government and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials for dereliction of duty.

Justice Mishra, on Wednesday, based on another complaint, had initiated proceedings and had pulled up the Labour Department and directed ACB to file an FIR against people who allegedly siphoned off money from the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Fund.
CBI also has been asked by him to intervene if the preliminary probe found “possible involvement” of any politician.

Justice Mishra, on Wednesday, initiated proceedings on a complaint by advocate Aires Rodriques, alleging that the BJP MLA had had a huge building valued at around Rs 200 crore constructed under his real estate business, Nikitasha Realtors Private Limited. This is in contradiction with his declaration in the election affidavit that his income was at less than Rs 1.5 lakh. In 2018, this complaint had been filed when Madkaikar was a minister in the Manohar Parrikar-led government.

Allegations had been denied by Madkaikar, and he also stated in his reply to the Lokayukta that the building concerned was constructed by Nikitasha Realtors, which is a separate private company in real estate business. The reply stated that Madkaikar, being MD of such a company, was only allowed to stay in such building.

It has been noted by Justice Mishra that Parrikar had then endorsed that since the complainant had approached the Lokayukta, the ACB need not to pursue the matter, thus avoiding any further probe.

In his order, Lokayukta Mishra wrote that it was evident that ACB and the then Chief Minister have shirked and shied away from their responsibilities by not registering FIR and conducting any investigation on the pretext that the matter was pending before the Lokayukta. Justice Mishra further added that there was no doubt that the Respondent No 3 [Madkaikar] belonged to the ruling party and the ACB may hence had become sluggish in its investigation.

If the investigation is not done properly, Mishra had suggested that the complainant could approach relevant authorities for a CBI probe.

Justice Mishra, on Wednesday, in another order, came down heavily on politicians, ordering an FIR to be registered by the state ACB against unknown persons for conspiracy to siphon out funds of Goa BOCW Welfare Funds to members of the public with a view to distribute largesse. The Lokayukta’s order stated that both of the cases will now be probed by the ACB, and any gaps in probe will allow the complainants to approach the CBI.