Panaji: A Ponda court has granted anticipatory bail to the TCP department’s deputy town planner, Tiswadi, Manguirish Verenkar, 59, in a cheating and forgery case.The case dates back to 2023. When he was posted as deputy town planner, Ponda, he allegedly issued NOCs in relation to execution of sale deeds by private parties before the sub-registrar not reflected in office records.While seeking anticipatory bail, he submitted that the maintenance of inward and outward registers and record entries is carried out by clerical staff and that he is not the dealing hand responsible for such entries.The investigating officer, opposing the grant of bail, said issuance of NOCs is a statutory function requiring approval and authority of the deputy town planner and therefore he cannot evade responsibility by attributing discrepancies to subordinate staff.The court stated that there appears to be a discrepancy in the records of the deputy town planner, Ponda, as to the number of NOCs issued by the TCP department and those produced before the sub-registrar’s office at the time of registration of the sale deeds in respect of property bearing survey number 215/0 of Bethora.“The case diary also indicates that there are suspicious transactions in the bank account of the accused, Ferdin Shaikh, and some phone calls between him and the applicant,” stated additional sessions judge Bosco Roberts.“The statement of the incumbent deputy town planner, Ponda, is also relevant to suggest the involvement of the applicant in the crime. What were the nature of the phone calls, why were there money transactions between Ferdin and the applicant, how were more NOCs used than were issued by the TCP dept while executing sale deeds, and why did the applicant visit the office of the deputy town planner, Ponda, even after his transfer, are all a matter of investigation, for which the applicant has already shown willingness to remain present before the IO for interrogation,” the court added.It observed that he is no more in service at TCP department, Ponda, and may not be in a position to influence witnesses or tamper with evidence there.
