Goa ex-minister to be tried in land-grab case

Panaji: Former Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar will face trial over a land-grabbing and cheating case.

The North Goa Principal District and Sessions Court on Thursday directed the former minister and two officials -- Peter Martins, former attorney of Comunidade of Serula and Irene Sequeira, former Administrator of Comunidade of Bardez -- linked to the alleged land grab to appear before it in person on June 17.

The ruling by Judge Irshad Agha follows a plea by the Goa Police Crime Branch to the Court last December to close the case against the three.

The former minister and officials are accused of fudging government records to allot a plot to Parulekar at throw away price.