Rodrigues demands probe into financial irregularities of HC lawyer

Panaji, May 15 : Social activist Advocate Aires Rodrigues today demanded a probe into all the alleged illegal assets acquired and business deals struck by Goa's controversial High Court Public Prosecutor (PP) Ms Winnie Coutinho.

She had yesterday put in her papers following exposure of her misdeeds.

Mr Rodrigues, who had successfully launched a crusade against the PP, had also urged the authorities to seize her assets and freeze bank accounts, pending a probe into her misdeeds as a public servant.

He welcomed the decision of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat not to allow Ms Coutinho to continue in office.

The government had in its yesterday's relieving order, stated it was 'pleased' to accept her resignation with effect from May 31.

Regretting that the Goa Government had allowed her to continue as Public Prosecutor for over two years after the government itself had come to a finding that she was incompetent and very corrupt, Mr Rodrigues said it would be highly improper to allow her to 'get away with all her misdeeds by merely resigning'.

The Government, he said, should review all the cases that were handled by Ms Coutinho in the High Court, which would confirm that she failed to properly represent the interests of the state for her personal monetary gains. It was audacious of her to aspire to become a High Court judge but failed, he said.

Stating that Ms Coutinho's saga was a very shameful chapter for Goa's Judiciary that should not be repeated, Mr Rodrigues has demanded prosecution of Ms Coutinho in accordance with the law so that she does not escape punishment.