HC issue notice to Goa govt over recovery of security deposit from EDM event

PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa on Wednesday issued notice to the State government while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition that sought recovery of Rs 1.5 crore security deposit from organisers of electronic dance music (EDM) festival held at Vagator in December 2017. While, hearing a PIL writ petition filed by social activist Trajano D'Mello, Justice Mahesh Sonak asked the Chief Secretary to explain via an affidavit as to how much money was due to the State government from the organisers of the Time out 72 musical festival. The petitioner asked why the State authorities had not recovered Rs 1.50 crore security deposit from the EDM event organisers. Appearing on behalf of the petitioner, Adv Rohit Bras de Sa urged the court to direct the respondent or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to immediately initiate action under the corruption act against the Tourism Minister and the senior officers in the department of tourism for acts/omissions amounting to corruption which had caused a loss of Rs1.50 crore to the public exchequer by unlawfully overruling the decision of the State Level Permission Committee (SLPC). The matter will now be heard further on January 28. This is the second PIL writ petition filed Trajano seeking to recover due of the government. In December, the high court had directed the organisers of another EDM festival Sunburn Klassique to deposit pending dues with the State government.