Staff Reporter

Panaji

A petition has been filed before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Panaji seeking that the court monitor the probe being conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch against Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar in a case related to land admeasuring 1,48,800 sq mtrs at Dhargal in Pernem of which Mapusa-based 77-year-old Rawloo Khalap is allegedly a co-owner.

In his petition filed under Section 156 (3) of the Criminal Code, Rawloo Khalap, who is represented by advocate Aires Rodrigues has submitted that though the FIR was registered against Jit Arolkar way back on October 26, 2020, the police have been dragging their feet in the investigation as the accused enjoyed political patronage and is now an MLA supporting the government.

The FIR against Jit Arolkar under Section 420 of IPC was registered at the Pernem police station and was later transferred to the Economic Offences Cell of the Goa Police while it is now with the SIT at the Crime Branch. The petition filed by Rawloo Khalap will come up for hearing before the Panaji JMFC on April 15.