Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 28: Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza has distanced himself and his late father, former Goa Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza, from land-grabbing accused Suleman Siddiqui’s claim regarding an alleged 1996 property transaction at Mapusa Housing Board, Ekta Nagar.

Speaking to The Goan, Joshua said he was only eight years old when the alleged transaction took place and had no knowledge of any sale deed purportedly signed by his father.

“I don’t know anything about the sale deed signed by my dad. He says the sale deed was done in 1996, which means I must have been eight years old. I am not aware at all if my dad had signed a sale deed which Suleman Siddiqui is claiming,” Joshua said.

Siddiqui, in an application and affidavit filed before the Additional Sessions Court during his bail proceedings, referred to his alleged dealings with politicians, claiming that his career as a builder and property dealer had brought him into contact with several MLAs and ministers in Goa and outside the state.

In relation to the Mapusa property, Siddiqui claimed that he had negotiated to purchase around 20,000 square metres at Housing Board, Ekta Nagar, in a transaction involving Francis D’Souza.

The claim formed part of a wider account presented by Siddiqui before the court, in which he alleged that he had extensive political contacts and that political influence had been used against him. These allegations remain claims made by Siddiqui.

Joshua, however, said the property belonged to his relatives and not his immediate family.

“The landowners are my relatives. Half of them are in the US. One family which was here was in close contact with us till this Suleman started putting everything on us,” he said.

According to Joshua, Siddiqui subsequently attempted to negotiate with him over the property, but he refused to get involved and told him to approach the court.

He said the dispute is now before the courts and is being pursued by the original owners.

“The matter is in court now. The original owners are pursuing it in court. The matter is sub-judice,” he said.

Joshua also pointed out that his father was not an MLA at the time of the alleged transaction.

“In 1996 my dad was not even an MLA,” he said.

The Mapusa MLA further claimed that Siddiqui had attempted to sell the property to another person, while the original owners were pursuing their claim through legal proceedings.

Siddiqui’s court statement has drawn attention to his alleged political contacts in the context of his wider claims about property dealings spanning nearly three decades. The specific ownership and transaction-related issues concerning the Mapusa property remain before the court.