MapsaMapsa

Tues. 27 Jan: 4pm - 4.30pm. House of Commons sitting in Westminster Hall. Debate on Confiscation of property from British nationals in Goa and corruption amongst government officials. Introduced by Tim Loughton, Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham… Tuesday Morning Adjournment Debates - Westminster Hall - UK Parliament

Westminster Hall debates. Entry is free of charge. There is no system of tickets or advanced booking. Places are limited and visitors are admitted on a first come, first served basis … For details, go to Westminster Hall debates - UK Parliament

12 Jun 2013 : Hansard, House of Commons. Q: Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to protect the interests of UK citizens residing and owning property in Goa. [158764] … For the answer go to Column 354W at House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 12 Jun 2013 (pt 0002)

For a brief highlight of the problem, go to BBC NEWS | Business | Threat to expat homes in Goa

Bipat

Are properties still being confiscated? Your BBC link is very out of date.
Asking around I haven't heard of any, but then we don't meet up with any expats. Would be interested to know.
UK government will usually not interfere, e.g. Spanish property problems.

Corruption we all know about that, not sure what British government could do about it!!! It will take new Indian government years to even improve matters.

a_f_d

Over 20 properties have been 'ordered for confiscation' fairly recently, ED investigation will have taken months or years to reach that point, anyone with enough stamina can still pay an 'interim' fine and appeal to the Special Director (many more months) and if confiscation is upheld then to the High Court (more years).
There have been several allegations of corruption at various stages of this, sufficiently compelling to prompt the current debate(s) (I believe there's something on 4th Feb as well as 27th Jan).
There are also reports of confiscation 'by default' - people who are dead, old, ill, who perhaps didn't pay that much for the property back then, are walking away rather than face the hassle.
No, they won't interfere, but they have persisted in raising these issues, so credit for that - and it's escalating, we've not had it debated in the House (or Hall) before.
Actually, people in the UK don't know all about the corruption, and are really shocked when told about it.
This whole thing is very ugly and reflects very badly on Goa and India.
If it's going to take years to fix the Indian Govt. can say goodbye to 'Make in India' - if something as simple as individual resident property is this fouled up then large companies will find out about it (even corporate execs use Google) and think twice - or thrice about investing.

The debate(s) can be seen on parliamentlive.tv - live or archived.
If you or anyone you know is affected by this contact your MP and tell them about the debates.

AndyD 8-)₹

p.s. NRI/ PIOs aren't exempt from this nastiness - dozens of them have been hauled up before the ED on dubious charges of buying 'agricultural, plantation or orchard land'.

prestonjohn

This will put the cat amongst the pigeons.The Goan press will side with the politicians, as they always do..bung bung.! You can guess what they will parrot out..Brits complaining about losing properies, properties that should have gone to sons of the soil..blah blah blah.All the old platitudes coming out.Its neo colonialism with Brits wanting special privileges.. Politicians should be applauded for confiscating properties that were obviously bought with illegal money...blah blah blah......The debate will certainly generate publicity but whether its going to help right some wrongs is another matter entirely

Bipat

Thanks I did not know the present situation. When I talk to Goan relatives or friends about this, they really find it hard to believe, that the British are treated in this way (they know such things can happen to themselves.) So perhaps more publicity in Goa itself is needed?

By being "aware of corruption" I meant people in India not UK.
However there is a great deal of investment in property in Goa by people from other states. (No Goans left in Goa is a complaint I hear often!!)

Your P.S. Do you think it is just foreigners and NRIs etc? property "nastiness" happens all over. Several on going cases in our extended family.

a_f_d

Yes Bipat, I know that goes on, but the cases you mention are between individuals, what I'm talking about is orchestrated by government and officials.

AndyD 8-)₹

a_f_d

I'm sure that's right, but now does seem like a good time to make waves - while 'Made in India' is on the front burner.


AndyD 8-)₹

Bipat

No, not just individuals, unless you count corrupt individual planning officers and other officials etc.
Not government certainly but the stress/pain is the same whoever causes you to lose property/prevent fair sale etc and local people do not have a second home* in UK to escape to! Just a relative if lucky.
*(I know some British sold up everything).

MapsaMapsa

Report + Video: UK Parliamentary Debate on Corruption in Goa
Tues. 27 Jan: 16:00 – 16:00pm. Introduced by Tim Loughton, Conservative MP who highlighted the case of Les and Sheila Medcroft (photo) which also affects many hundreds of other British expats … In 2001 the Medcrofts bought the Oceanic Hotel in Palolem, Goa. They went through the legal process and obtained all the licences and certificates. A couple of years ago the Enforcement Directorate claimed that it is built on agricultural land and confiscation proceedings have begun. The Medcrofts started the appeal process and were asked to pay a bribe of £10,000. They declined to do so. The case is still before the Court… A lecturer couple from Birmingham took early retirement and bought a hotel in Goa. Years later it is being claimed that it is on agricultural land… There are about 750 British national owning property in Goa who are facing “systematic abuse” and “demands for money under menaces” … To watch a recording of the debate (link valid worldwide), advance the counter to 16:00 using the right arrows Player

For the Hotel Oceanic website, go to Hotel Oceanic

Bipat

Mr Modi has an email address for the purpose of receiving complaints. Why not contact him regarding this?? and send your above post. He has stated he will listen to all such complaints and obviously will not want a bad relationship with UK Government.
Someone should do this, the Central Government probably has no idea what is happening in Goa, the Goan Government will be embarrassed if they are not shown to be not complying with Modi's aim to reduce corruption.


Agricultural to non AC land has always caused trouble as when the law changed many did not get their land transferred and then forgot about it, causing trouble when a sale took place.
It took a long time for our family (in Karnataka) and (the usual 'extra'/ 'bribe' to get a small patch of land, surrounded by buildings changed, because the entry lane was 8' wide instead of 10'. Thirty years trying and so far and no sale yet!!!!

I am writing this as (a British person) listening to the sound of shouting and bus engines in what was our next door rice field taken by Mrs Gandhi's land reforms for a pittance and turned into local council property --no problem for them to get it non agricultural!!! Now land prices are rising extended family could have been millionaires if they still had it!!!!!

This is India not UK and the problems of corruption were there when people bought holiday homes or started a business, hoping to enjoy the sun, and low cost of living. I don't really think they can be surprised that they are vulnerable. 'Join the crowd.'

p.s We stayed once briefly at Oceanic and I must say that we admired their enterprise, but OH as an Indian origin person did not feel too comfortable there.( Maybe his own wrong perception.)
Is this perhaps one problem that British expats have not really fully integrated with local people, language etc. may be they tried and were not helped? I don't know whether this is so, just asking.

jcbrum

Good coverage of the events in the Herald today,including a very supportive editorial.

John

Bipat

Just read the above on line. Interesting the word "mafia" was also used to us yesterday by a builder/engineer from here, who does a lot of work in Goa. His opinion that it will take 20 years to "cure". Hope he is wrong!!

Further to my above mention of contacting Modi, heard just now of an individual neurologist who was giving money himself and wanting to set up a free children's neurology hospital in outer Mumbai, harassment and money demands by planners at all and every stage. So he gave up.
Modi was contacted by someone and he offered to have it built in Ahmedabad---so then Mumbai authorities suddenly helpful and it is now being built there!!!!

MapsaMapsa

Enforcement Directorate threatens to sue media, British nationals over graft charges
28 Jan: Business Standard. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) here has threatened to file a defamation case against a local English daily and British national for tarnishing its officials' reputation. References were made in the British Parliament Tuesday about the woes of British nationals, whose properties have been frozen or confiscated by the ED in Goa. It was subsequently reported in a local English daily. ED spokesperson Pravin Pawar, in a formal press statement issued Wednesday, threatened to file defamation suit against the daily and a British national for "tarnishing the reputation of its officials"… Media reports have named two ED officials, who are allegedly involved in an extortion racket, pressurising the foreign nationals to shell out money in exchange for regularising their confiscated property, a charge that Pawar has denied…615 words. ED threatens to sue media, British nationals over graft charges | Business Standard News

For the names of the two officials go to Details

Veritas1

THE HERALD APOLOGISES

Its good to see that the Herald have responded so quickly with a public apology for their mis-reporting of proceedings in the House of Commons this week.

Herald: Sorry Mr Lotlikar, we were wrong


A second article here

Herald: British MP alleges ‘extreme violence’ against foreigners investing in Goa

Veritas1

More press coverage:

31.1.2015

Nevhind Times News Detail

Herald: CM to contact UK officials in ED matter

Allegations in Britain against Goa officials to be probed | Business Standard News

01.1.2015
Herald: SETTLED: All lands cannot be presumed to be agricultural

Herald: Visa uncertainty and ED scrutiny pre 2010 made the Goa dream a nightmare for Brits

Herald: ZIMBABWE BY THE SEA