log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline FRIDAY DECEMBER 13, 2024 page 6 From fleet to personal: How automakers keep everyone wanting more REVIEW: Mahindra XEV 9e: Charging into the future with style and power At 18, Gukesh is youngest world chess champion I ndian Grandmaster D Gukesh on Thursday became the youngest world chess champion at 18 years after beating title-holder Ding Liren in the last game of a nerve-wracking showdown to herald a new era of dominance by the country’s chess players.  >> See pg 12 IN SHORT >> Major power cut in S Goa on Sunday MARGAO: Major parts of South Goa will go without power supply on December 15 from 7 am to 5 pm as the Electricity Department has planned a shutdown for replacement of existing conductor.  >> See pg 2 More roads in Panaji being dug, traffic hit PANAJI: Traffic flow in the capital city was disrupted, especially in the peak morning and late evening hours with excavation of roads in newer areas for the ongoing smart city sewerage work restarted to connect the new network to the old. >> See pg 3 ‘Sextortion’: Accused gets conditional bail Mapusa: A court released the accused Kukesh Rauta on conditional bail after he was arrested on charges of extorting money from Congress MLA Adv Carlos Ferreira for a morphed video.  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: 34.3 C Min: 22.6 C Humidity: 86% TIDES Low: High: 02:39 14:59 07:59 22:14 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 176 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Jobs-for-cash: ED sets sights on money laundering angle AWAITS FILES FROM POLICE, SAYS IT WILL INVESTIGATE CASES IN ‘TOTALITY’ THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken up the investigation into the money laundering aspect of the jobs-for-cash scam, asserting to probe the matter in its entirety.  The multi-crore scam, which surfaced in October-end, rocked the State as over 100 victims are so far identified, about 30-plus FIRs, multiple arrests including those serving in government and the recovery of cash and gold recorded. As more complainants came forward and allegations of political involvement surfaced, the Goa Police categorically denied any external interference stating the investigation remains impartial.  ED sources, however, revealed that their probe would Land grab: ED attaches 19 properties PANAJI: The Enforcement Directorate, Goa has confirmed the attachment of 19 properties in the State comprising 11 in Anjuna and eight in Assagao, in connection with a land grabbing scam. A public notice issued for taking possession of these properties under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was issued recently. These properties, provisionally attached in November 2023, were confirmed by the comprise all angles with a particular focus on money laundering. “We have just initiated the investigation and are examining the case in totality. Similar patterns of financial misappropriation have emerged. Based on the FIRs registered by Goa adjudicating authority on April 15, 2024. The ED has now directed occupants, if any, to vacate the premises within 10 days under Rule 5(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Rules, 2013 (taking possession of attached or frozen properties confirmed by adjudicating authority) and hand over possession to the agency. Any rent or lease income generated from these properties must also be deposited with the ED, it said.  >> See pg 3 Police... We are currently in the process of gathering detailed information,” ED official told The Goan. The ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report after cases surged with crores of rupees involved in the scam. The ED official added that FROM ST INEZ TO CAMPAL… Translocated banyan tree yet to show signs of life Parts of tree virtually dead, claims botanist THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The banyan tree, relocated from St Inez to where it currently  stands on the periphery of the football stadium built on the former ‘Parade Grounds’ at Campal is showing no signs of life after the initial promise in June this year. Oral history accounts say the tree is nearly two centuries old and had to make way for one of the ‘Smart City’ smart roads section from the Madhuban Complex circle to the T-Junction on the western edge of the St Inez cemetery. It was relocated with Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) engaging domain experts and some local botanists as well in April. When the  bare bark of the tree sported a few green shoots, the tree was unveiled by CCP Mayor Rohit Monser- PORVORIM FLYOVER PROJECT: 2 TREES TRANSLOCATED, AGENCY TO HIGH COURT >> See pg 3 The banyan tree at Campal. rate in June. However, over the next six months, the green shoots have disappeared and parts of the tree are virtually dead as claimed by prominent botanist Daniel D’Souza. According to D’Souza, who has often in the past worked as a green-scaping consultant for CCP and other government agencies, while some parts of the tree are totally dry and seem lifeless, there are enough signs that it still has life and will revive. “When you scratch the outer bark, the sap is visible which means that the tree is not already dead,” D’Souza said in a video he posted on a social media platform after he recently visited the site where the tree stands in Campal. The massive banyan tree stood in the St Inez government quarters property of >Continued on P5 the police are gradually sharing the case files given that the FIRs were lodged at different times.  When questioned about summoning the accused and recording witness statements, the ED declined to comment. “It is too early to speak about Cabinet gives nod to bill for ‘one nation, one election’ 1 The ruling BJP took a major step to implement its key plank of “one nation, one election” as the Union Cabinet approved the constitutional amendment bill to roll out the concept of simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly polls, sources said. 2 Two draft legislations, including one simple bill to amend provisions dealing with three UTs to align them with the Constitution amendment bill, were given the nod. 3 While a high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind on simultaneous polls had also proposed holding the municipality and panchayat elections along with the national and state elections, the Cabinet decided to stay away, “as of now” , the sources said. >> See pg 7 UP brings Mahakumbh pitch to Goa, launches road show THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI he Uttar Pradesh government chose Goa, a rival tourism hotspot, to launch a road show promoting the upcoming Mahakumbh-2025 in Prayagraj. Scheduled in March 2025, the once-in-12-year spiritual ceremony is expected to draw millions of devotees and international visitors. With Goa’s mix of tourists and locals, Cabinet Ministers Dara Singh Chauhan and Ramkesh Nishad extended an invitation to Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. Speaking to the media after concluding the road show in Panaji on Thursday, Chauhan stated that its government T Jay Shah meets 2032 Brisbane Olympics officials Pg 14 SACRED JOURNEY STARTS IN GOA „„Expected to welcome over 450 million pilgrims, saints, ascetics, and tourists „„To be a divine and vibrant representation of ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshth Bharat-Samaveshi Bharat is taking significant steps to ensure the event is historic, featuring international participation and state-of-the-art facilities. “This year’s Mahakumbh will surpass the previous one in both grandeur and divine essence. Prayagraj Mahakumbh-2025 is expected to welcome over 450 million „„Special emphasis placed on making Mela pilgrims, saints, ascetics, and tourists. In preparation, the Uttar Pradesh government has made meticulous and timely arrangements,” he said as the road show coincided with the ongoing decennial religious event in Goa -- Exposition of the Relics of St Francis Xavier. Chauhan stated that the Mahakumbh embodies the both clean & green „„Three lakh plants cultivated across Prayagraj „„Event to be environment-friendly, single-use plastic-free „„Shops of dona-pattal vendors to be allocated within Mela area spirit of India’s cultural and spiritual consciousness and is a divine and vibrant representation of ‘Ek BharatShreshth Bharat-Samaveshi Bharat (One India, Great India, Inclusive India). Just like Old Goa, Mahakumbh has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. He highlighted that special emphasis has been placed on making Mahakumbh Mela 2025 both clean and green. About three lakh plants have been cultivated across Prayagraj, with the Uttar Pradesh government pledging to ensure their care and maintenance even after the conclusion of the Mela. “It would be a clean, healthy, safe and digital Mahakumbh. A pledge has been taken to make the event environment-friendly by declaring it a single-use plastic-free Mahakumbh. As part of this initiative, various shops of dona-pattal vendors will be allocated within the Mela area, and meetings have been conducted with principals of 400 >Continued on P5 these aspects of the case,” the official stated, assuring that all dimensions of the scam would be scrutinized.  No further arrests or recoveries have been made by Goa police in recent days, even as most of the accused, including the alleged masterminds, have been out on bail. Amidst the Opposition’s demand for an impartial or judicial probe, the government has remained tight-lipped. However, the Goa Police recently stated that the investigation is progressing well under the supervision of the Director General of Police, Inspector General of Police and Deputy Inspector General of Police to ensure professional standards are maintained. The police also reiterated that there is no need to form a Special Investigation Team. In-principle consent for Sunburn at Dhargal, but court nod awaited THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Tourism Department has granted in-principle approval to the organizers of Sunburn -Spacebound Web Labs Pvt Ltd -- for hosting Electronic Dance Music Festival (EDM) from December 28-30 at Dhargal-Pernem. The approval comes, within ten days after the Dhargal panchayat, on December 2, granted conditional approval to host the event on a private property owned by Delta Corp. Also, the approval is granted even as a petition is pending before the Bombay High Court at Goa, seeking revocation of permissions for the event in Dhargal. Tourism Department officials confirmed that the organizers have been granted in-principle approval following submission that the panchayat has already granted its nod. Much before the permissions were granted, Space- HEFTY FEES „„Tourism Department has outlined several conditions for the Sunburn event. The non-refundable event fees total Rs 1,92,50,000, plus GST of Rs 34,65,000, along with a refundable security deposit of Rs 1,99,65,000. Additionally, processing fees are non-refundable bound Web Labs Pvt Ltd had announced the new venue and the dates of the event, with tickets already getting sold. Even as the local panchyat has granted its nod, there are several villagers who are still against hosting the event. The Tourism Department, meanwhile, outlined several conditions for the Sunburn event. The non-refundable event fees total Rs 1,92,50,000, plus GST of Rs 34,65,000, along >Continued on P5 No fresh cases against places of worship: SC NEW DELHI: In an important development, the Supreme Court on Thursday restrained till further directions the courts in the country from entertaining fresh lawsuits and passing any effective interim or final orders in pending ones seeking to reclaim religious places, especially mosques and dargahs. “As the matter is sub-judice in this court, we deem it appropriate that no fresh suit would be registered and proceedings are undertaken till further orders of this court,” the CJI-led bench said. The special bench was hearing about six petitions, including the lead one filed by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, challenging various provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The 1991 law prohibits conversion of any place of worship. >> See pg 8