Attack on Calangute restaurant Souza Lobo was ordered by a politician for Rs 3 crore election fund?

CALANGUTE, GOA: According to an alleged ‘confessional statement’ (given in police custody) by one of the arrested accused, the December attack on the Souza Lobo restaurant at Calangute was allegedly ordered by a prominent politician, in cahoots with a businessman, to collect funds and extort money for the upcoming Assembly Elections, and was not merely a case of restaurant business rivalry. ALSO READ: CCTV footage of Souza Lobo shows staff of Planet Goa, Sunil Bhomkar and Gajendra Singh leading the attack

Sources who spoke to this reporter, quoting the ‘accused statement’ alleged that a politician wanted to collect Rs 3 crore from the owners of the beach-side restaurant to fund his election expenses and the hit-men Chotu alias Gajendra Singh and Sunil Bhomkar – who are known thugs and criminals in the area, were hired by a Dehi-based businessman – on the instructions of the politician, to “scare and threaten” the Souza Lobo owners into ‘surrendering’ – either sell and vacate the property or cough up Rs 3 crore.  ALSO READ: Calangute cops paid Rs 2.5 lakh bribe per month, Delhi bizman Rajeev Arora under the lens?

The accused in his statement allegedly claimed he overheard Gajendra Singh speaking on phone with the politician, hours before the attack, who ordered them to give the Souza Lobo staff a ‘sound thrashing’ to scare the owners and ensure that all the staff leave their jobs.

“The purpose was to also ensure that the staff quit their jobs and nobody works for the restaurant,” our source claimed.  ALSO READ: Gajendra alias Chotu Singh operates 12 illegal ladies ‘dance’ bars in the Vagator-Candolim belt

According to a Herald report, the owners of the iconic Souza Lobo Restaurant which was attacked by around 80 armed thugs in December last year, claimed they were offered Rs 40 crore by the alleged mastermind of the crime Rajeev Arora to leave the property. ALSO READ: Calangute PS collected Rs 30 to 35 lakh per month in bribes, ‘hafta’ claims ex-cop

It is learnt that Arora was acting on the orders of a powerful politician and his collection agent Abhishek Mishra, who wanted to buy the property or extort money from the owners, should they refuse to sell.

Since the owners were not ready to sell, the politician tried to extort Rs 3 crore from them on the ‘pretext’ of election funding. ALSO READ: Souza Lobo case: Main accused trying to influence police, investigation

Media reports claimed the restaurant was attacked by about 80 people with stones, swords, knives, bottles, lathis and property was damaged causing the owners a loss of approximately Rs 30 lakh.

Six people sustained minor injuries while three sustained severe injuries and were admitted at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Bambolim.

About 15 people have been arrested till date and are presently in judicial custody. 2-3 accused, including one of the main accused – a known criminal Gajendra alias Chotu Singh have applied for bail. A few more accused are absconding. ALSO READ: Souza Lobo case: Main accused trying to influence police, investigation

The Goa government suspended and transferred a police inspector (in-charge of the Calangute police station) and two constables in relation to the case.