Local Goa News

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

GCA’s driver is also a broker and the contractor for the Sanguem cricket stadium

The driver of GCA’s treasurer earned lakhs of rupees from GCA in brokerage for land deal of the Sanguem stadium; then bagged a construction contract worth crores of rupees from GCA; and then again joined the Goa Cricket Association as official driver of treasurer Vilas Desai for a salary of `10,000

PANJIM: Suhas Naik has never played cricket for Goa or for any club for that matter. But he is indeed a very good all rounder.
He pocketed a cool Rs 6 lakh as brokerage for the sale of the land in Sanguem on which the cricket stadium is being built. Soon after that, this “broker” floated a company called Atharv Constructions and got worth crores for development and construction of the same Sanguem cricket ground on whose sale he got a brokerage. In addition, he got a similar deal for the Porvorim cricket ground, both deals totalling Rs 6 crore.
While this company was doing business with GCA, Suhas, who is the owner and signatory for Atharv Constructions, joined the association as official driver to then treasurer Vilas Desai in 2013, at a meagre salary of Rs 10,000.
So here’s the question. Was this driver of the former treasurer of the GCA, Vilas Desai, really a broker, and a construction company owner or was he just a front for power local politicians who wanted to control and derive profit from GCA?
Herald investigations reveal that Suhas, who worked as a driver of former treasurer Vilas, was on the GCA rolls drawing a salary of Rs 10,000. Documents reveal that Suhas was paid an amount of Rs 6,86,435 by cheque no 041994 of Federal Bank on 23/02/2012 towards brokerage of Sanguem land purchased for a cricket ground. In 2012, sources reveal, Suhas was personal driver of Vilas.
Six months later, Suhas floated a company named Atharv Constructions, Civil Contractors & Real Estate Developers, with its address at Costi Kalay, Sanguem. The company later bagged a contract worth crores for development and construction of Sanguem and Porvorim grounds worth around Rs 6 cr (copies of Atharv Construction Bills are in possession of Herald).
The works are of construction of a retaining wall, sump tanks. Besides, the company also bagged the contract to supply construction material at Porvorim and BITS, Pilani grounds for GCA worth around Rs 21 lakh.
GCA treasurer Vilas and his mentor MLA Subhash Phaldesai refused to speak to Herald on this issue. GCA members clubs that have now laid hands on the papers are demanding a thorough investigation into the matter.
“How can one explain a person who is personal driver of a GCA office bearer takes brokerage worth lakhs and then floats a construction company, takes contracts worth crores and again joins the cricket association as driver for Rs 10,000? Is this logical?” asked Sushant Naik, president of United Cricket Club, Mapusa.
He alleged that there may be someone using Suhas’ name for personal benefit. “We (all 86 clubs) have demanded a thorough investigation and filing of police complaint in the matter, as it looks to be a big scam, which needs to be unearthed,” Naik said.
When Herald contacted GCA secretary Vinod Phadke for his comments on the development, he said, “We have no clue, it has been brought to our notice by the auditors and we are looking into the matter. We will investigate and if need be will file a complaint with the police.”
But this is hardly the only “scam” which the GCA is facing. Of late the association has been in the eye of a storm after allegations of ‘fraud’ against the top three office-bearers of the association – president, secretary and treasurer.

Herald Goa News

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