FIR against me is politically motivated: Dharmesh Saglani

An FIR has been lodged against former mayor and Sanquelim Congress candidate Dharmesh Saglani at Canacona police station on Thursday, January 20.

Pravin Ghanshyam Warik of Patnem, Canacona lodged a fraud complaint against Dharmesh Saglani

The complaint stated that Saglani deposited Rs 25 lakh and Rs 15 lakh each in his father Ghanshyam Warik's bank account in March and April 2016, but later took a bearer check from his father and withdrew the money from the bank.

In this context, Canacona police have registered a case against Sagalani, Police inspector Pravin Gavas said that the investigation was started by registering a case under section 420 of the IPC.

On the contrary, while expressing surprise about the police action, Sagalani said, “I have lodged two complaints of fraud against Warik with the Kankon police on January 7. However, this complaint has not been addressed yet.”

Sagalani said that the crime is registered in the run-up to thelections is likely to be politically motivated and he would not be intimidated by a FIR against him. "Looking at the fact that this case is being registered while the civil suit is pending in the Margao court case is being tried, I think this is a way to keep the election campaign afloat," he said.

In Sanquelim, Dharmesh Saglani will take on incumbent MLA and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Congress's ticket for the upcoming Goa Assembly election.

In the 2017 Assembly polls, Congress had won 17 seats in the tiny coastal state to emerge as the single largest party. However, the BJP, which was in second place in terms of seats, quickly stitched an alliance with MGP, Goa Forward and Independent MLAs to form its government in Goa. However, later on, two MLAs from the MGP joined BJP.

The election for the 40 seats will take place on February 14, and the ballots will be counted on March 10.