TEAM HERALD GOA NEWS

PANJIM: Income Tax teams from Bangalore raided offices of top builders in the state on Tuesday. The raids which started around 6.30 to7 am continued till late in the evening.

The raids assume importance in the backdrop of elections scheduled on March 3. Offices of Model Construction Pvt Ltd, headed by Peter Vaz who is known to be a close associate of Taleigao legislator, Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, were also raided.

When contacted Vaz told Herald that that his offices as well residences were raided including his sports establishment — Sporting Clube de Goa at Campal. Other places where raids were conducted are Vasco, Mapusa, Porvorim and Miramar.

The Goa division the of Income tax, however, was completely in the dark about the raids conducted by officials from Bangalore circle. When contacted, IT office feigned ignorance about the ongoing raids.

Though there was no confirmation, the IT teams from Bangalore conducted 18 raids.

Earlier last year, income tax officials had raided the office and factory of Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane.

In the past, the Congress has been accused of misusing the Income Tax Department to raid its rivals and troublemakers. This could be a reason why an aide of the Taleigao MLA was raided.

The Congress party has been trying to rein in the Taleigao MLA who had dumped the Congress party in the 2007 assembly election at the last minute for denying a ticket to his wife. He then contested from Taleigao on the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) ticket whereas his wife Jennifer contested from St Cruz.

Monserrate wants to field his wife Jennifer from one of the two constituencies and has placed his demand before the party. The Congress suspects that he might play the same game again.

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