New Delhi: Weeks after the Congress accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Goa of a Rs 304.24 crore scam, a state directorate of vigilance report has said that in the last five years, on an average, more than one corruption and misconduct complaint per day was filed against government employees and public representatives with the department. 

According to media reports, since March 2020, 2,741 complaints have been filed with the vigilance department. While no arrests have been made based on those complaints in the last five years, “officials have been booked for offences such as seeking illegal gratification and missing official power.”

“During the period in question, over 15 government officers were placed under suspension, but most were reinstated,” said the Times of India.  The reasons for officers being suspended include allegedly fraudulently obtaining loans from various banks/cooperative societies with allegedly forged salary certificates to fraudulently grabbling plots of lands, the report said. 

Congress accusations

The report has come on the heels of Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera’s March 22 statement calling the BJP a “cabal of mini-Adanis” and claiming that the ruling party was “systematically favouring private players in government projects”. 

Putting out the statement on X, Khera had said, “Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi’s so-called ‘Fight Against Corruption’ is a ‘Fight for the Corrupt’ – his own government in Goa is a prime example of this hollow talk. A Rs 304.24 crore scam in public funds where private players were awarded more than 20 projects without competitive bidding has looted the people of Goa. Na Khaunga Na Khane Dunga is a mirage. BJP has created a cabal of ‘Mini-Adanis’ in Goa, who benefit through favouritism in awarding plum contacts, openly demolishing every rule of the procurement manuals and the Central Vigilance Commission”. 

Just days before it, Pandurang Madkaikar, Goa BJP leader and former minister in the first Pramod Sawant government, had left the party accusing his own government of being involved “only in corruption”. 

“Loot is going on. Nothing is moving. They are only busy counting money. All ministers are busy counting money. Nothing is happening in Goa,” he had told local reporters, alleging that he too was “forced to pay” a bribe for a “small work”. Not naming anyone in particular, Madkaikar had alleged that one has to pay state ministers in lakhs to get “files cleared”. 

Chief minister Sawant didn’t deny the charges but said, “He has not made any allegation against me. Ask him (who the minister is).” 

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