From Daijiworld's special correspondent (MB)

Panaji, Jun 21: Anupam Kishor committee, probing land dealings by foreigners in Goa, has been asked to submit its status report within ten days by the state government.

The action follows instruction by newly inducted Goa chief minister Digamber Kamat who has asked the state secretariat look seriously into the  cases of Foreign exchange management act (FEMA) violations by the foreigners.

The state government earlier had cited 400-odd instances of foreigners buying properties in the coastal state of Goa, which were allegedly violating FEMA. N Majority of these cases are reported from coastal talukas and European community are more involved in these purchases.

A joint committee roping in reserve bank of India, which was headed by Anupam Kishor, was constituted which was scanning all the cases. ``Many cases are already referred to RBI as prima facie FEMA violations are cited in their dealings,’’ Goa chief secretary J P Singh said.

Singh said that once status report is in place, the government will contemplate the possibility of taking action against these cases. ``FEMA violations are dealt by RBI but we are also exploring the possibility whether action can be taken by Goa government too,’’ the chief secretary added.

``The purchaser of the land would be punished for violation…. We are also studying what will happen to the seller,’’ Singh said.

On asked about the national security council’s report that feared that the Russian mafia involvement in the Goan land dealings, Singh said ``police are looking into that aspect. There are no enough evidence to support the fear.’’

He said that the state government has already asked the registration department to take permission from home department while clearing all the files pertaining to foreigners land dealings, in future.