BEYOND GOLD- Most politicians wives are switching to pearls which can be much more expensive than even gold. Mrs Vijaya Devi Rane has admitted to owning many pearl necklaces

As in the James Bond film Gold Finger, our MLAs in Goa, with rare exception, are also obsessed with gold. According to the affidavits filed by 29 MLAs prior to the 2012 election, they have admitted to collectively being in possession of 81,000 grams of gold, valued very conservatively at over Rs 20.34 crore.

By Financial Correspondent

AS in the case of married women who are only permitted to own 500 grams and unmarried women who are permitted only 250 grams without scrutiny, the gold in possession of the MLAs as admitted by them should be examined by the IT authorities to find out if it was bought out of white or black money. This is because politicians are notorious for converting their black money into gold and diamonds and real estate.

Limiting ourselves to the gold and jewellery declared by our honourable aamdars and khaasdars, we were not surprised to find that the maximum amount of gold is owned by Jennifer and Babush Monserrate, who have admitted to being in possession of 3000 grams of gold, each valued at over Rs 60,000. Among the others who have large quantities of gold and diamonds and silver are five-time chief minister Pratapsing Rane, his wife Vijayadevi Rane, and his son, Vishwajit Rane. Just to give you an idea of the fabulous wealth of the Ranes, Vijayadevi had admitted to owning an armband of gold with a tiger-mouth shape with kundhan work containing 12 villa diamonds of 12 carats each with small ruby and emerald stones. You can buy this from Vijayadevi for just Rs 1,40,000, which is the value shown. Some of the other jewellery owned by the Ranes is a diamond ring and gold, a gold coin necklace, a pair of diamond ear studs, four lines of button pearls with single cut diamond set in gold consisting of 116 pearl buttons and cut diamonds, one pearl collar of six lines with a pendant of diamonds and emerald, and two diamond bangles in gold. The family also owns household silver vessels consisting of six thalis, one bowl, two oval dishes, 24 katoris, one dish and, two oval dishes. So, if you are invited for dinner at the Rane farmhouse, you can expect to be served on silver plates.

It is not only the women who possess a lot of gold. There are some men who are also very fond of jewellery, like Nuvem MLA Mickey Pacheco. Mickey has admitted to having 15 rings weighing 100 grams, three gold chains weighing 900 grams and three bracelets weighing 400 grams. So the weight of Mickey in gold is equivalent to 1300 grams, more than 1200% higher than the limit of 100 grams which man can legally own. You can read the details of the gold owned by the other MLAs and their wife and children below. We are not implying that all of it is black money. But we insist that just as the aam aadmi and aurat has to account for the gold in their possession above the prescribed limit, MLAs and ministers and members of parliament from Goa should also be required to do so. We must also insist that all candidates who want to contest the 2017 election should inform us of how much gold and jewellery they have and how they purchased it.

PRATAPSING RANE (PORIEM)

Gold: 80 grams worth Rs 1,59,500;

1 gold chain necklace and silver chain worth Rs 4,05,000;

1 diamond ring in gold worth Rs 63,850;

Silver utensils of 10 kg worth Rs 5,21,236;

1 pair of pearls and diamond ear studs worth Rs 53,800;

1 packet of loose cut and polished melesize small diamond worth Rs 62,700;

1 packet of loose cut and polished melesize small diamond worth Rs 1,28,000;

Gold of 80 grams worth Rs 1,88,000;

1 diamond ring in white metal and gold of 6,800 grams worth Rs 35,200;

Diamond and emeralds star worth Rs 2,12,500;

Set with 258 pearls +12 rubies +104 diamond worth Rs 51,000;

Gold chain 9 gram worth Rs 15,750;

1 gold ball of 25 gram worth Rs 43,750;

51 grams worth Rs 89,250;

1 gold bangle of 65 gram worth Rs 1,13,750;-

1 pair of GOP worth Rs 1,15,000;

1 gold Saj with GOP worth Rs 1,05,000;

1 gold tulsi with gonad(testicles) worth Rs 1,05,000;

1 gold tika strung in gold, pearls worth Rs 22,500;

Household silver utensils worth Rs 10,03,968;

1 gold Patli worth Rs 1,69,870;

1 pair of gold Toda worth Rs 1,71,500;

Nylon black beads Mangalsutra with diamond ring worth Rs 32,000;

Diamond bangle in gold worth Rs 67,600;

1 pair of diamond tips in gold worth Rs 82,620;

1 diamond ring in gold worth Rs 16,040;

1 diamond ring in gold worth Rs 30,860;

1 diamond ring in gold worth Rs 17,740;

1 pair of diamond tops worth Rs 26,500;

1 pair diamond tops worth Rs 24,960;

1 diamond ring worth Rs 26,770

Total: Rs 41,61,214

VISHWAJIT RANE (VALPOI)

Gold 651.10 grams worth Rs 22,74,565;

Gold 739.700 grams worth Rs 34,03,998;

Gold 54.70 grams worth Rs 79,000;

Gold of 64.94 grams worth Rs 96,700

Total: Rs 59,54,263

LAXMIKANT PARSEKAR (MANDREM)

Gold of 500 grams worth Rs 12,50,000

TOTAL: Rs 12,50,000

MANOHAR PARRIKAR (PANJIM)

220 grams gold for Rs 6,16,000

TOTAL: Rs 6,16,000

DIGAMBER KAMAT (MARGAO)

Gold 140 grams worth Rs 3,50,000

Gold 2213 grams worth Rs 55,32,500

TOTAL: Rs 58,82,500

ROHAN KHAUNTE (PORVORIM)

Gold 3012.94 grams (50% each spouse) for Rs 65,05,5690;

Silver 10900.10 grams (50% each spouse) for Rs 5,44,500.

TOTAL = Rs 65,600,190

VIJAI SARDESSAI (FATORDA)

Gold chain 24 grams worth Rs 62,400;

Bracelet of 12 grams worth Rs 31,200;

1 pair of Toda 32.20 grams worth Rs 83,720;

4 bangles 49.20 grams worth Rs 1,27,400;

1 pair Pattali 48.20 grams worth Rs 1,25,320;

2 beads bangles 20 grams worth Rs 52,000;

1 Mangulsutra 30 grams worth Rs 78,000;

1 chain 19 grams worth Rs 49,400;

1 Rudraksh mala 24 grams worth Rs 62,400;

1 brooch 35 grams worth Rs 91,000;

2 bangles 16 grams worth Rs 41,600;

1 gold chain 8 grams worth Rs 20,800

TOTAL = Rs 9,18,840

CAETANO R SILVA (BENAULIM)

2 rings of 12 grams;

15 bangles 60 grams worth Rs 1,62,000;

11 earrings 10 grams worth Rs 27,000;

5 chain 30 grams worth Rs 81,000;

5 lockets 10 grams worth Rs 27,000

Jewellery worth Rs 54,000;

1 bangle 10 grams worth Rs 27,000;

5 pair of earrings 10 grams worth Rs 27,000;

2 bracelets 20 grams worth Rs 54,000;

1 locket 6 grams worth Rs 16,200;

Jewellery worth Rs 27,000;

1 bracelet 30 grams worth Rs 81,000

Total: Rs 5,83,300

CHANDRAKANT KAVLEKAR (QUEPEM)

Gold jewellery 242 grams worth Rs 6,05,000;

Gold jewellery of 695 grams worth Rs 17,37,500;

Gold 60 grams worth Rs 1,50,000;

Gold jewellery 62 grams worth Rs 1,55,000;

Total: Rs 26,47,500

NILESH CABRAL (CURCHOREM)

Gold 80 grams jewellery worth Rs 2,00,000;

150 gram worth Rs 3,75,000;

80 gram worth Rs 2,00,000;

110 grams worth Rs 2,75,000;

130 gram worth Rs 3,25,000;

Total: Rs 13,75,000

GANESH GAONKAR (SANVORDEM)

Gold 225.69 grams worth Rs 5,82,700;

Gold 225.69 grams worth Rs 5,82,700;

Total: Rs 11,65,400

BENJAMIN SILVA (VELIM)

Gold jewellery 57 g worth Rs 1,42,500;

Gold jewellery 433 g worth Rs 10,83,250;

Gold jewellery 102 g worth Rs 2,54,250;

Gold jewellery of 54 g worth Rs 1,35,250

Total: Rs 16,15,250

MAHADEV NAIK (SHIRODA)

64 g jewellery worth Rs 1,28,000

576 g jewellery worth Rs 11,52,000

120 g jewellery worth Rs 2,40,000

Total: Rs 15,20,000

PANDURANG MADKAIKAR (CUMBHARJUA)

Gold Rs 13,21,670;

Chain of 20 g;

Earring of18 g;

4 Bangles of 25 g

Chain of 20 g;

Earrings of 18 g;

2 Bangles of 20 g;

Chain 20 g

Total: Rs 17,11,535

 PROMOD SAWANT (SANQUELIM)

Gold of 60 g worth Rs 1,80,000;

Gold of 400 g worth Rs 10,00,000;

Total: Rs 11,80,000

MAUVIN GODHINO (DABOLIM)

Gold of 1656 g worth Rs 47,21,000 (half share of spouse)

Jewellery and precious stones worth Rs 15,50,000 (half share of spouse)

Total: Rs 62,71,000

JOSE LUIS CARLOS ALMEIDA (VASCO)

Gold of 75 g worth Rs 2,55,000;

Gold of 230 g worth Rs 7,82,000

Total: Rs 10,37,000

 

NARESH RAJARAM SAWAL (BICHOLIM)

Gold of 150 g worth Rs 4,58,000;

Gold of 468 g worth Rs 9,85,376

Total: Rs 14,43,376

RAMESH B TAWADKAR (CANACONA)

Gold of 20 g worth Rs 35,310;

Gold 80 g worth Rs 1,41,240;

Gold of 10 g worth Rs 17,655

Total: Rs 1,94,205

DILIP PARULEKAR (SALIGAO)

Gold of 2000 g jewellery worth Rs 38,00,000

Gold of 750 g jewellery worth Rs 14,25,000

Total: Rs 52,25,000

RAJENDRA ARLEKAR (PERNEM)

Gold of 31.25 g worth Rs 6,87,500;

Gold of 72.18 g worth;Rs 15,87,960;

Gold of 3.22 g worth Rs 70,840;

Gold of 7.13 g worth Rs 1,56,860;

Gold of 11.15 g worth Rs 2,45,300;

Gold of 28.16 gram @ Rs 6,19,520

Total: Rs 33,67,980

MICHAEL LOBO (CALANGUTE)

Gold of 10 g worth Rs 20,000;

Diamond set Rs 8,63,000;

Gold of 408 g worth Rs 10,66,000

Total: 19,49,000

 

VISHNU WAGH (ST ANDRE)

Gold jewellery of 100 g worth Rs 2,80,000;

Gold jewellery of 1409 g worth Rs 39,45,200;

Gold jewellery of 50 g worth Rs 1,40,000;

Gold jewellery 50 g worth Rs 1,40,000

Total: Rs 45,05,200

 

FRANCIS D’SOUZA (MAPUSA)

Gold of 1000 g worth Rs 9,00,000;

Total: Rs 9,00,000

RAMKRISHNA ALIAS SUDIN DHAVALIKAR (MADKAI)

Gold of 1000 g worth Rs 27,00,000;

Gold of 200 g worth Rs 5,40,000;

Total: Rs 32,40,000

DAYANAND R MANDREKAR (SIOLIM)

Gold 2kg worth Rs 34,00,000.

 

FRANCISCO PACHECO (NUVEM)

15 rings (totally weighing 100 g) worth Rs 2,70,000;

3 gold chains of 300 g worth Rs 24,30,000;

3 bracelets of 400 g worth Rs 10,80,000;

1 gold chain of 10 g worth Rs 27,000;

1 gold chain of 10 g worth Rs 27,000;

1 bracelet of 5 g worth Rs 13,500;

1 gold chain of 10 g worth Rs 27,000;

Total: Rs 38,74,500

 

AVERTANO FURTADO (NAVELIM)

2 rings of 10 g worth Rs 27,000;

1 chain with medallion of 20 g worth Rs 54,000;

1 necklace of 10 g worth Rs 27,000;

4 bangles of 30 g worth Rs 81,000;

5 earrings of 10 g worth Rs 27,000;

2 chains of 20 g worth Rs 54,000;

Bracelet of 10 g worth Rs 27,000

2 lockets of 5 g worth Rs 13,500;

2 chain of 20 g worth Rs 54,000

Total: Rs 3,64,500

 

JENNIFER MONSERRATE (TALEIGAO)

Gold of 2984.94 g worth Rs 26,34,956;

Gold of 2984.94 g worth Rs 26,34,956;

Total: Rs 52,69,912

PANDURANG DEEPAK DHAVALIKAR (PRIOL)

1200 g worth Rs 32,40,000

Total: 32,40,000

 

MILIND SAGUN NAIK (MORMUGAO)

50 g for Rs 1,50,000;

300 g for Rs 9,00,000;

20 grams for Rs 60,000;

20 g for Rs 60,000

Total: Rs 12,30,000

 

ALINA SALDANHA (CORTALIM)

180 g for Rs 4,00,000

Total: Rs 4,00,000

 

ANANT V SHET

19 g for Rs 33,915;

185 g for Rs 33,0225

TOTAL: Rs 3,64,140

 

With imputes from Heena Nawer