Margao Congress leader, Savio Coutinho, during a press conference, expressed concern over the non-recovery of Rs 18 lakh fraudulently siphoned off by a Margao Municipal Council (MMC) staff member. Coutinho suggested that pressure from the Margao MLA might be the reason behind the failure to recover the amount or arrest those responsible.
Joined by Adv. Snehal Onskar, Aneil Alvares, Clifford Dias, Camilo Camara, Lincoln Gomes, Anwar Naroo, and Maria do Carmo Pereira, Coutinho revealed that, according to RTI information from the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), neither the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the Chief Secretary, nor the DMA have taken any action towards recovering the amount.
Coutinho criticized the Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant, questioning whether he was under pressure from the Margao MLA. He noted that despite raising the issue with the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary, no effective steps have been taken, and the MLA has remained silent on the matter.
Aneil Alvares warned that if citizens were to stop paying taxes due to the authorities’ disregard for taxpayer money, they would face charges. He questioned what actions should be taken against authorities, including the CM’s office, for allowing such frauds to occur.
Clifford Dias vowed not to rest until the entire amount, along with interest, is recovered. He mentioned the possibility of approaching the court if necessary, to ensure those responsible are held accountable for their negligence.
