NT Reporter
Panaji
With the contest for the Ponda Assembly seat intensifying, financial affidavits of the three main candidates reveal a wide disparity in wealth and investment patterns, with AAP candidate Geetesh Naik emerging as the richest, followed by the Congress and BJP nominees.
Geetesh, 45, a resident of Dhavali, has declared total assets of approximately Rs 30.16 crore. His wealth is largely derived from immovable assets worth Rs 27.23 crore, including non-agricultural land in Pilgao, Bicholim, valued at Rs 25 crore.
His movable assets, valued at over Rs 2.61 crore, include a Toyota Fortuner and a sole proprietorship firm ‘Om Infrastructure’ valued at Rs 2.5 crore.
He has reported liabilities of Rs 22 crore and faces two pending criminal cases related to dishonour of cheques. Ketan Prabhu Bhatikar, 41, contesting on the Congress ticket, has declared assets worth approximately Rs 4.89 crore. His immovable assets amount to Rs 3.8 crore, including commercial shops in Ponda and residential apartments in Mumbai and Ponda. His movable assets are valued at Rs 1.08 crore and include a Mahindra XEV 9E worth Rs 29 lakh. He has reported liabilities of Rs 1.29 crore, the highest among the candidates.
Ritesh Ravi Naik, 49, the BJP candidate, has declared total assets of Rs 3.11 crore, the lowest among the three. He and his spouse do not own any immovable property, with their assets held entirely in movable form, primarily 1.7 kg of gold jewellery valued at approximately Rs 2.77 crore. He has reported nil liabilities and no criminal cases.
In terms of educational qualifications, Bhatikar holds a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy, Ritesh Naik holds a Bachelor’s degree in IT from Australia, and Geetesh Naik has completed his Class XII education.
