log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY APRIL 25, 2026 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 307 Colva event opens with subdued spirit, mood lifts after Khattar’s detention 2 GOA Lapses in Porvorim flyover works placed before High Court 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INDIA Oppn parties make fresh move for removal of CEC Khattar finally detained in Himachal after manhunt ACCUSED TRACKED IN KULLU, LIKELY TO BE BROUGHT TO GOA TODAY; DETENTION HOURS BEFORE BANDH DEADLINE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Four days after the Crime Branch took over the investigation into the controversial remarks made against Goa’s patron saint St Francis Xavier, police on Friday tracked down and detained self-styled spiritual thinker and YouTuber Gautam Khattar in Himachal Pradesh. The move came even as locals had threatened a Goa bandh, setting a deadline for his arrest. Khattar, who had been absconding ever since a First Information Report was registered against him at Vasco police station, was detained in Kullu district after the Goa Police’s “specific inputs” and were shared with the Himachal Pradesh Police. The timing of the arrest is likely to ease mounting public anger that had spilled onto the streets in Margao a day earlier, where the protesters demanded Khattar’s immediate arrest, the registration of a case against the event organisers and the removal of Min- Page 8 Relief for Portuguese passport holders from Goa, Daman, Diu Settlers keep alive Goan traditions in Upper Ghats at Khanapur IN SHORT >> NGT upholds GCZMA demolition order for Morjim structures PANAJI: The National Green Tribunal, Pune, has upheld GCZMA directions to demolish eight structures in Survey No. 119/3 at Morjim, Pernem, and to restore the land to its original condition. The NGT dismissed the appeal of owner Dilip Morje of Tembvada, Morjim, stating that the appellant could not establish that the impugned structures existed prior to 1991. 4 firms shortlisted for Bainguinim plant >> See pg 3 IN POLICE NET ister Mauvin Godinho from office. The protesters warned of a Statewide Goa bandh if no action was taken by 5 pm on Friday. In a statement issued late Friday, Superintendent of Police (Crime) Rahul Gupta said the detention followed swift coordination between the two state police forces. “As promised by Goa CM (Pramod Sawant), prompt action has been taken in this case. Based on an input by Goa Police, the Himachal Pradesh Police has detained the main accused Gautam Khattar, in Kullu district this „„Absconding since Vasco FIR; detained in Kullu on Goa Police inputs with Himachal Pradesh Police support „„Detention followed swift coordination between Goa and Himachal Pradesh Police „„Crime Branch team already left for Kullu to secure custody „„Accused likely to be brought to Goa on Satur- day, possibly by flight if formalities are completed „„If air transfer is not cleared, transit remand will be taken and accused brought by train „„Threat of statewide Goa bandh was issued if no action was taken by 5 pm on Friday „„Detention expected to ease public anger following protests in Margao evening. A team of the Crime Branch will soon take over the custody of the accused and he will be brought to Goa,” the statement said. Sources said the accused is expected to be brought to Goa as early as Saturday, most likely by flight if formalities are completed in time. “If the required formalities for transporting the accused by air are completed with- in time, he is expected to be brought to Goa on Saturday. The Crime Branch team has already left for Kullu... Else, a transit remand will be obtained and he will be brought to Goa by train,” the source told The Goan. Khattar during a Bhagwan Parshuram Janmotsav event held in Vasco last Saturday, made defamatory remarks on St Francis Xavier, prompting Major jolt to AAP: Chadha, six other RS MPs join BJP CITE ‘BETRAYAL’ OF PARTY’S CORE VALUES; PARTY ACCUSES SAFFRON CAMP OF ‘BREAKING’ ITS RANKS PTI NEW DELHI The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffered a jolt on Friday as seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, quit the party, with Chadha saying all of them had merged with the BJP, asserting that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party had strayed from its principles, values and core morals. Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikram Sahni and Swati Maliwal were the other four parliamentarians in the group of seven. Their move came as a surprise to many, as the exits were disclosed at a hurriedly called press conference at Constitution Club in central Delhi, after which AAP chief Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had betrayed the people of Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha meets BJP National President Nitin Nabin at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Friday. Punjab while state Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann termed the seven MPs “gaddar” (traitors). The BJP extended a warm welcome to the MPs as party president Nitin Nabin offered them traditional sweets. >Continued on P10 protest and an FIR against him for hate speech and creating communal discord. The programme was organised by the Sanatan Dharma Raksha Samiti, Mormugao. Sources further said the breakthrough may have been aided by the arrest of Khattar’s brother, Madhav Khattar, two days earlier. Officials indicated that Madhav, who was arrested in connection with the same case, had allegedly been handling Gautam’s professional schedule and routines. His interrogation is understood to have provided crucial leads about the accused’s movements and possible hideouts. Officials also believe that the arrest may have narrowed Gautam’s legal options, particularly any move to seek anticipatory bail while on the run. A non-bailable warrant had already been issued against him. Khattar has described himself as a “spiritual beat journalist” on social media and is the founder of Sanatan Mahasangh. Goa Board to declare SSC results on April 26 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education will declare the results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Examination on April 26 at 5 pm. The SSC examination was conducted from March 13 to April 9 across 32 centres in the State. A total of 20,659 candidates appeared under the regular category, including 10,819 boys and 9,840 girls, as per the Board data. GBSHSE said that the consolidated result sheets will be made available to schools for download from April 28 onwards, while individual result booklets will also be accessible on the official website. The Board has stated that the schedule for collection of marksheets will be announced separately, and schools have been instructed to coordinate the process. 9 CITES NON-COMPLIANCE ISSUES PTI MUMBAI The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Friday that it has cancelled the banking licence of Paytm Payments Bank Limited, more than two years after imposing business restrictions over regulatory violations, including lapses in customer due diligence. The licence was cancelled as the “affairs of the bank were conducted in a manner detrimental to the interest of the bank and its depositors”, the RBI said in a statement. “The general character of the management of the bank is prejudicial to the interest of depositors as also the public interest,” it said. Paytm Payments Bank, backed by One97 Communications, received a limited banking licence in August 2015, allowing it to accept small deposits but not issue loans. The company previously counted China’s Ant Group and Japan’s SoftBank among its investors. In January 2024, the RBI directed the bank to stop accepting new deposits, citing non-compliance with rules related to customer due diligence, use of funds and technology systems. >Continued on P10 PANAJI oa is close to being declared malaria-free and Health officials expect certification by the end of the current (2026‑27) financial year, more than four decades after the mosquito-borne disease caused havoc in the State in the mid-1980s and '90s. Dr Kalpana Mahatme, Deputy Director who heads the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme in Goa, made the statement in Panaji during World Malaria Day event. North Goa Collector Ankit Yadav, IAS, Dr Manish Gaunekar, Shubhada Pednekar and other officials attended. Dr Mahatme said no indig- G „„Zero indigenous cases reported in recent years „„No malaria deaths since 2018 „„Incidence rate at zero per 1,000 population since 2022 „„Current cases limited to migrant workers, mainly in construction sector „„Active screening at construction sites, jetties, hotels, migrant settle- ments „„Proposal submitted to Centre for malaria-free certification „„Central team inspection completed, expressed satisfaction enous malaria cases have been reported in Goa in recent years. Since 2018, the State has recorded zero malaria deaths and all current cases are limited to migrant workers, mainly in the construction sector. The health department conducts checks at Kohli, Padikkal hit fifties as RCB ace chase against GT 15 Sex scandal: Forensic report in, set to steer investigation Crime Branch counts on deleted data retrieved from accused’s phone as complainants turn elusive THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The investigation into the Curchorem sex scandal, which has so far led to five First Information Reports against Soham Naik, has entered a more critical phase after the Crime Branch received the most-awaited forensic analysis report of his mobile phone from the Verna Forensic Science Laboratory. The report arrives even as the overall investigation appears to be running into procedural setbacks, with key complainants either turning uncooperative or becoming difficult to trace, at least for now. Naik was recently granted interim anticipatory bail in one of the five cases registered against him, with the investigation team now heavily relying on the forensic report. Sources revealed that the experts have reportedly retrieved videos and photographs that were allegedly deleted before the device was seized by police. The forensic findings are also said to include a detailed log of calls, text and WhatsApp messages made „„Deleted „„Digital trail videos and covers period FORENSIC linked to alleged photographs FINDINGS offences recovered from mobile device „„Data may help „„Detailed call corroborate timelogs mapped for lines and movements relevant period „„Evidence could support „„SMS records retrieved, or contradict complainant including timelines and statements contacts „„Crucial: Report be„„WhatsApp chats and comes key as complainexchanges accessed ants turn uncooperative and received by Naik during the period relevant to the alleged offences. The development could prove pivotal in a case that has stirred considerable public attention. But while the CB attempts to piece together allegations spread across these complaints, the probe has also been complicated by a few reversals from complainants. In one of the cases, a teenage complainant who had accused Naik of repeatedly raping her between July 2025 and March 2026 under the pretext of marriage had lately declined to under- go a medical examination. In an email sent to the Goa Police days earlier, the complainant had alleged that the assaults took place over several months at different locations, including near the Quepem waterfall. She had also accused Naik of circulating obscene images of her on social media without her consent. In another case, sources said the complainant has allegedly since taken a U-turn, reportedly stating that Naik was only a friend. In the first FIR registered against Naik, the complainant was said to be untraceable. Govt reverts zoning change, restores NDZ in Pernem OVER 10.9 LAKH SQ M ROLLED BACK UNDER SECTION 39A; OBJECTIONS INVITED WITHIN 30 DAYS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major decision, the State government has reverted over 10.90 lakh square metres of land in Pernem taluka to No-Development Zone (NDZ) by invoking provisions of Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act. This is the first instance of land being reverted to NDZ under the section since its introduction two years ago. The TCP Board, chaired by Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane, approved the change of zone for a total area of 10,90,005 sq m during its meeting held on April 21. The land parcels, located in the villages of Mandrem, Chopdem and Arambol, were earlier classified under categories such as settlement, orchard and other uses in the Regional Plan 2021. According to the notifica- RBI cancels licence of Goa eyes ‘malaria-free’ tag by FY27 end Paytm Payments Bank H I STO R I C H E A LT H MI LESTO N E THE GOAN I NETWORK SPORTS construction sites, jetties and hotels. Screening drives are also held in migrant settlements. When infections are found, the workers’ home States are informed. Goa’s malaria incidence rate has been zero per thousand population since 2022. The State has submitted a proposal to the Centre for malaria-free certification and Central officials inspected South Goa earlier this month and expressed satisfaction. "Certification is expected soon," Mahatme said, adding that the PMO has sought details of Goa’s malaria control efforts with the initiatives likely to be mentioned in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming Mann Ki Baat broadcast. >Continued on P10 REGULATORY ROLLBACK „„First-ever rollback under Section 39A of TCP Act „„Decision cleared at TCP Board’s April 21 meeting „„Land parcels in Mandrem, Chopdem, Arambol „„Areas earlier marked as settlement, orchard, mixed use „„Four parcels with mixed classifications now fully NDZ „„Includes natural cover, slopes, irrigation areas, public-use zones „„Concerns over eco-sensitive, forest, agri land conversions tion, four land parcels comprising mixed classifications— including partly settlement, partly orchard, partly natural cover with no-development slope, partly natural cover under irrigation command area, and portions marked as crematorium, nallah and playground—have now been approved to be converted entirely into NDZ. The department has invited objections and suggestions from the public within 30 days of the notification over its decision. In its order, the TCP Department stated that the decision was taken after scrutinising the proposals based on the scrutiny report. “The Goa Town and Country Planning Board, in its 231st meeting held on April 21, 2026, has approved the said proposals,” >Continued on P10