log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY MAY 25, 2026 GOA The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 337 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 2 9 Goa warming up to poll season Monsoon to flush untreated waste into River Sal yet again >> pg 6 Facebook.com/thegoan GOA Audit flags `1.12 cr short recovery of regulatory penalty from AIIA INFO Stubborn forehead tan: Causes, fixes, and when to see a pro SPORTS IPL: All-round Archer helps RR secure last playoffs spot 12 Key accused arrested in Mapusa sextortion case CONSULTANCY FIRM ANNOUNCES 30 ‘ASSEMBLY MANAGER’ OPENINGS ON INSTAGRAM; Mastermind held in Dehradun OFFERS BOOTH MOBILISATION, DIGITAL STRATEGY; PARTY LINK UNDISCLOSED after nearly three-year hunt IRAN TENSIONS, CRUDE PRICES, FII FLOWS KEY FOR MARKETS THIS WEEK IN SHORT >> Goa Dairy hikes milk prices PANAJI: Goa Dairy has announced an increase in milk prices across most of its variants, with the revised rates coming into effect from May 25, 2026. As per the decision, the price of milk will go up by Re 1 for half-litre packs and Rs 2 for one-litre packs across all variants, except the High Fat Milk (Gold) category, which will remain unchanged. Calls for rally to ‘Save Goa’ MARGAO: Retired Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Ferdino Rebello on Sunday gave a clarion call to the people of Goa to attend the rally at the Azad Maidan, Panjim on Goa Statehood Day to save Goa from destruction. >> See pg 2 Chandor seeks migrants' survey MARGAO The gram sabha meeting of the village panchayat of Chandor on Sunday has resolved to conduct a survey on the migrants staying on rented premises in the village.  >> See pg 2 Pissurlem opposes garbage project VALPOI: Villagers have alleged that waste from industrial areas across Goa is being brought to a project operating at the Pissurlem Industrial Estate, causing pollution, foul smell and unhygienic conditions in the area. The issue dominated the recent Gram Sabha meeting of the Pissurlem Panchayat, where residents warned of launching an agitation if the garbage project is not shut down.  >> See pg 5 Chimbel flat gutted in fire PANAJI: A locked flat at Gaulem Bhat, Chimbel was gutted in a fire early Sunday, destroying furniture and household items. Neighbours alerted the fire brigade after spotting smoke around 6.30 am. Firefighters contained the blaze before it spread. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 31 C 28 C 83% THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa’s political corridors are abuzz after Chakravyuh Analytica, a Pune-based election management and consulting firm, announced 30 openings for “Assembly Managers” in the State. The recruitment drive, advertised through an Instagram poster, is being viewed as an early sign of a high-voltage campaign in the run-up to the 2027 Assembly polls. It has drawn comparisons to the blitzkrieg of late 2021, when Prashant Kishor’s I-PAC orchestrated a dramatic entry for Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress in Goa. Then, young professionals in sharp attire flooded the State’s streets, media spaces and political corridors, building a narrative even though the TMC’s eventual electoral performance was disappointing. But Chakravyuh’s hiring advertisement has revived memories of that disruptive campaign style. Chakravyuh Analytica describes itself as a political consulting and marketing outfit, offering services ranging from booth-level mobilisation, „„Pune-based Chakrawhich political party it is vyuh Analytica working with announces 30 „„Recruitment CAMPAIGN drive seen as ‘Assembly Manager’ openings BLITZ: early groundin Goa RECRUITMENT work for the DRIVE „„Consultancy 2027 Assembly firm offers booth elections mobilisation, „„Shiv Sena, led by digital strategy and inEknath Shinde, has anfluencer outreach services nounced plans to contest „„Firm has not disclosed 30 seats in Goa door-to-door outreach, digital strategy and influencer collaborations. While Chakravyuh has not disclosed which political outfit it is working with, efforts to ascertain these details from sources in political parties here have also yielded naught. It would however be interesting to note that recently, Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy CM, Eknath Shinde has made it public that the outfit is aiming to contest 30 seats in Goa in 2027. The scale of Chakravyuh's recruitment suggests preparations for a serious electoral push and the advertised “Assembly Manager” positions are expected to be constituen- PAGE 3 CM, DAMU DASH TO DELHI, TRIGGER SPECULATION TIVIM TURNS POLITICAL BATTLEGROUND AS HALARNKAR, KANDOLKAR TRADE BARBS cy-focused roles, overseeing campaign logistics, volunteer networks and voter engagement at the grassroot levels. Goa is likely to head to the polls in February 2027 with all 40 Assembly seats in contention, although an earlier schedule cannot be ruled out. In the 2022 election cycle, Panchayat audit system falters amid accountability concerns ONLY 13 VILLAGE BODIES GENERATED AUDIT REPORTS IN 2024-25; NONE IN 2025-26 AS ZPs FAIL FOR THIRD YEAR THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa’s local self-governance audit mechanism has come under scrutiny after audit report generation by village panchayats virtually collapsed over the last two financial years, with only 13 of the State’s 191 panchayats generating audit reports in 2024-25 and none doing so in the recently concluded 2025-26 financial year. The situation marks a complete reversal from 2023-24 when all 191 panchayats had generated their audit reports, ensuring full compliance across the State. Equally concerning is the continued non-performance of Zilla Panchayats, with both North and South Goa district bodies failing to generate audit reports for the last three consecutive years. Records show the audit generation of the ZPs has remained nil throughout the period. The latest figures indicate that while Goa had achieved complete audit coverage in 2023-24, the compliance ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY „„Panchayat audit report generation collapses in Goa over last two financial years „„Audit reports are mandatory under Panchayati Raj framework „„Reports verify public fund utilisation and detect financial irregularities „„Audit compliance linked to transparency norms and AuditOnline platform „„Audited accounts crucial for monitoring Finance Commission grant expenditure „„Authorities say audit report preparation is underway and auditors are appointed framework weakened significantly thereafter. In 2024-25, only 13 panchayats generated audit reports, accounting for less than seven per cent of the total panchayats before the number fell to zero in 2025-26. “Audit report preparation is underway by the panchayats. Auditors are already appointed,” sources said. Audit reports form a critical component of financial governance in Panchayati Raj institutions as they verify accounts, review utilisation of public funds, examine implementation of development schemes and identify financial irregularities or deviations in expenditure. The auditing of panchayat accounts is mandated under the Panchayati Raj framework and is also linked to transparency and accountability requirements under centrally monitored systems such as the AuditOnline platform introduced by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Audited accounts are also important for tracking expenditure under Finance Commission grants and ensuring corrective measures. Ahead of assembly polls, BJP cracks whip on internal dissent MAPUSA: Four months after the Zilla Panchayat elections in Goa, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has begun cracking down on party office bearers accused of working against the official candidates during the polls, signalling a tough stance on internal discipline ahead of the Assembly elections. The first major action has come in Bastora, where the BJP leadership removed Bastora mandal president Ranjit Usgaonkar and general secretary, Manisha Naik from their respective posts following the party’s poor performance in the ZP constituency.  >> See pg 3 elections to the Goa assembly were clubbed along with Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Manipur by the Election Commission of India. The BJP, led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, currently holds a dominant position along with its ally the MGP. The Congress is the dominant Opposition party and has only three legislators but is looking for a revival with strategic alliances. The Aam Aadmi Party, Revolutionary Goans Party, Goa Forward Party and the remnants of the TMC are also expected to contest. Meanwhile, the entry of professional campaign strategists could significantly alter the dynamics, especially if backed by a major national or regional party. Political analysts meanwhile say Goa’s political discourse, both on the ground and online, may soon witness a surge in activity reminiscent of the 2021 campaign blitz leading to the polls likely to be held in February 2022. As the State steadily inches closer to this next big electoral contest, the seeming involvement of professional strategists signals that Goa’s 2027 elections may once again be shaped more by marketing and targeted mobilisation rather than by traditional political party structures and campaign strategies. THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major breakthrough in the high-profile Mapusa sextortion case, Goa Police, in coordination with the Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF), on Sunday arrested the alleged mastermind of the interstate racket from Dehradun, nearly three years after a Mapusa businessman was allegedly blackmailed and extorted. The accused, identified as Salman Khan, is accused of orchestrating the racket and allegedly extorting lakhs of rupees from the businessman. Police said he had been absconding since the 2023 incident and is suspected to have carried out similar offences in multiple states. The case dates back to August 2023 when a group posing as officials of the Delhi Narcotics Bureau allegedly raided the complainant’s bungalow in Mapusa. The victim was allegedly assaulted, intimidated and later blackmailed, with the accused extorting around Rs 30 lakh from him. Following the complaint, Goa Police arrested four accused in 2024 – Nivedita Sharma, Bhuvan Arora, Faizan SEXTORTION RACKET „„Arrest linked to high-profile Mapusa sextortion case from August 2023 „„Victim, a Mapusa businessman, allegedly extorted of around Rs 30 lakh „„Accused allegedly posed as Delhi Narcotics Bureau officials during fake raid „„Police say racket targeted wealthy businessmen using honeytraps and hidden cameras „„Victims allegedly blackmailed with compromising videos and threats of exposure Khan and Mohammad Basheed Khan for their alleged role in the racket. Investigators said the group operated a sophisticated sextortion network targeting affluent businessmen using >Continued on P7 Fr Bolmax critical KURDI PILGRIMAGE on ventilator after heart attack THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chicalim vicar, Fr Bolmax Pereira, suffered a miscarriage infraction (heart attack) late Saturday night and is in a critical condition on life support (ventilator) at the intensive coronary care unit (ICCU) in Goa Medical College, Bambolim. GMC sources said, Pereira was brought in on Saturday morning from Daffodils hospital in Vasco where he was revived by doctors soon after he collapsed at the railway station. He was stable through the day on Saturday and even interacted with family and visitors but suffered the miocardial infraction late in the night. Doctors revived him and put him on life support, a GMC source said, adding that he was brought in with diabetes and hypertension related condition. When contacted, a source told The Goan that doctors had advised medical observation for 48 hours. “So far, 24 hours have passed by and there has been no change in the health parameters of Fr Bolmax and he >Continued on P7 Devotees queue up at the annual zatra of Lord Someshwar at the submerged village of Kurdi in Sanguem on Sunday, as thousands from Goa and neighbouring states thronged the historic site.  >> Report and more photos on pg 3 SC plea seeks probe into Cockroach Janta Party, fraudulent law degrees PTI NEW DELHI A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a probe into the allegations regarding fake advocates and activities associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical digital outfit that came up recently and took so- cial media by storm. The petition has also sought action against those involved in alleged commercial exploitation of oral observations made during court proceedings. It sought an investigation into alleged fake advocates who are practising law using fraudulent degrees. Expressing concern over the misuse of judicial proceedings, the plea claimed that remarks and observations made during the court proceedings were being used for publicity campaigns. The CJP surfaced recently following a controversy over remarks attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. Haryana-origin mother-son US now pushes measured path to Iran peace pact duo elected mayors in UK PTI 23-YEAR-OLD TUSHAR BECOMES YOUNGEST MAYOR AS PARVEEN RANI JOINS MAYORAL RANKS PTI CHANDIGARH In a double delight for a family from Haryana's Rohtak which moved to the UK in 2013, 23-year-old Tushar Kumar and his mother Parveen Rani have been elected as mayors in that country. Tushar has created history by becoming the youngest Indian-origin mayor in the UK. Tushar became the youngest-ever Mayor of Elstree and 23-year-old Tushar Kumar and his mother, Parveen Rani, elected as mayors in the UK. Borehamwood Town Council while a week later his mother was elected as the first Indian-origin Mayor of Hertsmere Borough Council. Tushar's father Sunil Dahiya on Sunday told PTI over phone that while Tushar was elected as Mayor on May 13, Parveen became Mayor on May 20. The family, whose ancestral village Rohna falls >Continued on P7 WASHINGTON he US and Iran have “largely negotiated” a peace pact to end the nearly three-month war, US President Donald Trump said, asserting that he has told the negotiators “not to rush into a deal” and that “both sides must take their time and get it right.” In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said negotiations between the US and Iran were “proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner,” but he told representatives “not to rush into a deal” and “that time is on our side.” Trump said the US blockade of ships in the Strait of Hormuz “will remain in full T „„US-Iran peace „„Proposed deal pact has been may reopen key ‘largely negotiglobal oil shipated’ ping route WHAT PREZ TRUMP „„Iran expect„„Negotiators told not to rush ed to dispose of SAID… final agreement highly enriched uranium under pact „„Strait of Hormuz blockade to continue till „„Deal currently excludes pact is signed Iran missile stockpile and force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified and signed.” “Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes,” Trump said. He also invited Iran to join the Abraham Accords, which deal with estab- lishing diplomatic, economic and security ties between Israel and Arab nations. The Sunday morning remarks came a day after he announced on social media that the deal was “largely negotiated,” and that final enrichment curbs „„Invites Iran to join Abraham Accords framework aspects and details were being discussed and would be announced shortly. Trump said on Saturday that he had spoken with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and Israel. The US President was in the Oval Office late Saturday night and had even skipped his son Don Jr.'s wedding in the Bahamas. “Our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one. They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb,” he said on Sunday. Trump suggested that Iran could join the Abraham Accords. The US and Iran have agreed in principle to a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz with a commitment from Iran to dispose of its highly enriched uranium, The New York Times reported quoting a US official.