Probe in 31% land grab cases completed

Panaji: The special investigation team (SIT) probing the alleged land grab cases across the state has completed investigations in only 31% of registered cases.A total of 47 cases/FIRs are being investigated by the SIT, of which 25 FIRs have been registered by the team and 22 FIRs have been transferred from various police stations to the SIT since its was constituted.“We chargesheeted 10 land grab cases, which are pending trial, and 32 cases are under investigation. One case is C-Final, one case is A-Abetted, and in two cases, FIRs are quashed by the high court. In one case, the FIR was quashed by the Supreme Court,” police said.A senior police officer stated that not a single property has been provisionally attached or seized by the SIT.The police conducted investigations into each complaint and registered FIRs regarding illegal land transfers/land grabbing by way of forged documents.

Sufficient evidence was collected to prove cases of forgery and cheating.The police department issued guidelines to all superintendents of police across the state for handling cases related to land grabbing and fraudulent activities, including document forgery.“All officers have been briefed and directed to take prompt action as per the provision of law, and conduct thorough investigations whenever such cases are reported.

Whenever a complainant approaches the SIT LG with a grievance, a superior officer is to find out the progress of the case,” a senior police officer said.The officer mentioned that the complainant is informed about the status/progress of the case and the disposal of the case as per the provision of law.Goa police stated that the translation of old Portuguese documents and expert opinions from the forensic laboratory delay investigations in land grab cases.More than 70% of the land grab complaints received by police are not part of the organised land grab rackets operating in the state. Over the past three years, Goa police received 708 complaints pertaining to land grabbing.