PANAJI: The Goa Government has forwarded 20 cases with prima facie proof of violations in the matter of land and property purchase deals by foreigners in the State to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for further probe.

This is the first lot of cases of the 482 cases of alleged violations under scrutiny.

The decision has been based on the basis of a report submitted by the special investigation committee set up under the State`s Debt Management Unit (DMU) of the Finance Department. The committee is dealing with the investigation into about 482 cases of alleged violations including the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Sources in the DMU told The Hindu on Monday that based on the prima facie report in each case, it was decided whether a case would be handed over to either the Enforcement Directorate or the RBI or in some cases to Registrar of Companies for further investigation. More cases may be referred to RBI and other agencies as and when the scrutiny takes place, sources said.

As for the cases referred to the RBI, sources said it is now up to the RBI to seek more information and decide the course of action for violations.

The issue of alleged violations of laws by foreigners in purchasing properties in the State was taken up seriously by the State Government after it was raised by various political parties and public spirited citizens last year. After a preliminary inquiry was conducted by the State Home Department, it was found that a majority of the cases of clandestine land and property deals by foreigners on tourist visa happen to be in the State's tourist coastal belt.

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