Extortion racket allegations in Candolim-Baga belt are true: Former Calangute MLA

Panaji: Hotelier and former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes on Saturday said the allegations about an extortion racket going on along the Candolim-Baga belt are true. Fernandes, who is usually critical of Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, backed the allegations made by the latter and said that two politically linked men tried to extort money from Lobo too.
Fernandes claimed that chief minister Pramod Sawant is trying to brush the extortion cases under the carpet.
“Although the chief minister has said that it is false news, I can guarantee you that there is truth in it. When a BJP MLA says that there is extortion and gives names, why does the government have doubts? Otherwise arrest Michael Lobo for defaming the state and the government,” he said.
Fernandes further said that police personnel were forcing restaurants to shut down at 10pm even though the deadline applies only on loud music. “ I can understand shutting down sound but they were shutting ordinary restaurants at 10pm and this is even though some had excise licences to operate till 1am. It is another matter that sound is blaring beyond 10pm at Anjuna, Vagator and other places,” said Fernandes.