Differences in Goa government over ban on import of fish
Panaji, Oct 25: Differences have emerged in the Goa government over the issue of ban on the import of fish for fear of formalin contamination.
Goa Forward Party (GFP) leader Vijai Sardesai is in favour of ban on the import, while BJP leader and health minister Vishwajit Rane has refused to impose it.
Sardesai, the agriculture minister, claimed Thursday that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, while admitted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi, had given his nod for imposing the ban.
"The decision was conveyed to officers but they have not executed it," Sardesai said.
"The controversy is over preservatives (like formalin) being added to fish, making the staple diet of Goans unsafe for consumption," he said.
To restore people's confidence in the quality of fish available in local markets, a ban on the import was needed, he said.
Health minister Rane, who held a review meeting on fish import with his department officials Thursday, however refused to impose a ban.
It was decided at the meeting that only insulated trucks would be allowed to bring in fish from outside as per a circular issued on August 4.
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Court grants statutory bail to two more accused in Sabarimala gold loss cases
Kollam (Kerala) (PTI): A court here on Thursday granted statutory bail to more accused in two cases related to the alleged gold loss from the Sabarimala temple.
The Kollam Vigilance Court Judge Mohit CS granted bail to Chennai-based Smart Creations CEO Pankaj Bhandari and Ballari-based jeweller Govardhan Roddam in connection with cases involving gold loss from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) gold plates and the door frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) at the temple.
The duo was granted bail in both cases after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) failed to file charge sheets within 90 days of their arrest.
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Pankaj Bhandari is the 12th accused in the Dwarapalaka case and the ninth accused in the Sreekovil door frame case, while Govardhan Roddam is the 13th accused in the Dwarapalaka case and the 10th accused in the Sreekovil door frame case.
With the latest development, as many as 10 accused have now been released from jail after securing bail in the Sabarimala cases.
According to the investigation, the artefacts from Sabarimala were taken to Smart Creations in 2019 for replating, after which the SIT alleged that gold was lost.
Govardhan is also said to be a close associate of the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty.
The SIT, following searches at the residences and offices of the accused, had recovered gold allegedly equivalent to the reported losses from Sabarimala.
The SIT has informed the Kerala High Court that charge sheets in the cases will be filed before the end of March.
