BJP functionary Prakash Gade has targeted the Congress, alleging that the party had brought a “recovery” model to Goa. His attack centres on photographs of arrested accused Siddhesh Tari with Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao.
Mumbai Police arrested Tari and Pritesh Salgaonkar in connection with allegations of extortion involving The House of Abhinandan Lodha’s ‘One Goa’ project at Karapur in Bicholim. Police are investigating allegations that money was demanded to allow work on the project to continue. Transactions allegedly totalling around Rs 41 lakh have surfaced in the case.
The controversy gained another layer after an alleged audio recording surfaced with references to a Rs 30-lakh payment.
The authenticity of the recording, the identities of those speaking and the context of the money mentioned in it have not been independently established.
Gade directed his political attack at senior Congress leader Manikrao Thakre, the party’s in-charge for Goa, Daman & Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
“It seems that Manikrao Thakare, the Congress in-charge for Goa, has also implemented the extortion method in Goa,” Gade said in a post translated from Marathi.
“The recovery gang arrested in Mumbai yesterday has turned out to be associated with the Congress,” he claimed.
Gade also pointed to photographs of Tari with Chodankar and Alemao.
“Opposing projects is Congress’s old habit. If no extortion money is paid, then the project shuts down,” he alleged.
The case concerns the ‘One Goa’ project in Karapur, Bicholim. The project had faced opposition from residents and activists in the Karapur-Sarvan area.
Mumbai Police are now investigating allegations that money was demanded in return for allowing the project work to continue.
Tari and Salgaonkar have been arrested in the case. The alleged transactions under investigation total around Rs 41 lakh.
The arrests have prompted questions over whether there was any connection between the financial transactions under investigation and opposition to the project.
Rs 30-lakh reference in alleged audio adds a new twist
An alleged audio recording that refers to a Rs 30-lakh payment has become another point of controversy.
गोवा काँग्रेस प्रभारी माणिकराव ठाकरे यांनी वसुलीची पद्धत गोव्यात पण लावून दिली वाटत..
— Prakash Gade (@PrakashGade13) September 2, 2026
काल मुंबईत अटक करण्यात आलेली वसुली टोळी ही तर कॉंग्रेसची निघाली!
आता त्याच वसुलीबाज अटक केलेली सिद्धेश तारी यांच्यासोबत काँग्रेसचे प्रदेशाध्यक्ष गिरीश चोडणकर आणि विरोधी पक्षनेते युरी आलेमाव… pic.twitter.com/qnhYtQpds3
References such as “you made Siddhesh’s 30” and “you gave Siddhesh Rs 30 lakh” can reportedly be heard in the recording.
The conversation also contains references to 30-35 people, signatures and stopping work. At another point, one of the speakers talks about financial difficulties and expenses related to a vehicle.
“I also have a vehicle, there are expenses for the vehicle, and I don’t have money now,” the person reportedly says.
The speaker also says, “I have not gone live anywhere” and, “Whatever we do, we do peacefully. Give me some time.”
The recording does not, on its own, establish what the Rs 30 lakh was allegedly paid for. It also remains unverified whether the “Siddhesh” referred to in the conversation is Siddhesh Tari.
Nor has it been established whether the Rs 30-lakh reference forms part of the approximately Rs 41 lakh in alleged transactions being investigated by police.
A forensic and technical examination of the recording has been sought to establish the identities of the speakers and the context in which the money, protests and signatures were discussed.
The investigation into the alleged extortion case is continuing
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