Goa Chief Secretary Punit Goel today began hearing final arguments on the appeal filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues against the order passed on October 20th last year by Excise Commissioner Narayan Gad in the case pertaining to that controversial ‘Silly Souls Café and Bar’ in Assagao allegedly run by the family of Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani. The Chief Secretary directed both the parties to file their written arguments by March 20th and fixed the matter for final submissions on March 23rd.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues today argued that though the Excise licence was in the name of Anthony De Gama, the GST No 30AAIFE7039H1ZM as well as the Food and drugs licence used by Silly Souls Café & Bar was all in the name of Eightall Food and Beverages which is operating in partnership with Ugraya Mercantile Pvt Limited of which Zubin Irani the husband of Smriti Irani is a Director.
Adv. Benny Nazareth representing the family of Anthony De Gama however submitted that Eightall Food and Beverages had nothing to do with Silly Souls Café & Bar which was owned, run and managed by the family of Anthony De Gama.
Adv. Rodrigues in his appeal before the Chief Secretary has challenged the Excise Commissioner’s order on 33 grounds to the effect that the licence which was obtained illegally and by fraud could not have been transferred in the name of Anthony Dgama’s widow.
In his complaint filed before the Excise Commissioner on 20th July last year, Adv. Aires Rodrigues had pointed out the illegal manner in which the Excise licence was issued in January 2021 in the name of Anthony De Gama and later renewed in his name in June 2022, a year after his demise. Adv. Rodrigues also submitted documents to the effect that the premises where Silly Souls Café & Bar is located was leased to Eightall Food and Beverages by Anthony Dgama with effect from 1st January 2021 for a period of 10 years at a monthly rent of Rs 50,000.