Panaji, Oct 6 : The Russian mafia is hunting for the owner of a coastal resort in Goa, which is on the state government's demolition list for alleged CRZ (coastal regulation zone) violations, counsel for Russian businessman said Tuesday.

Disputing claims by the authorities in Goa that Leonoid Beyzer, a Russian director of M/s True Axis Private Limited, which owns a 30,000 sq metre resort in the coastal region of Morjim could not be traced, his lawyer Vikram Varma said that Beyzer was no longer a director in the company.

"But Beyzer is still in Goa. He has a business visa, it is unfair of the state government to say that he cannot be contacted," Varma said. "And the question of sending a demolition notice to Beyzer does not arise as he has only one Rs. 100 share in the company, which he relinquished and resigned from in May 2007," he added.

Varma further said Beyzer was being harassed by the underworld in Russia, who were trying to bump off the businessman. "There have been attempts to murder Beyzer both back in Russia and Goa in order to usurp his company, which held real estate worth several crore in Goa. We have informed the state home ministry about the same," Varma said.

Earlier, the state administration had maintained that they were unable to execute a demolition notice issued by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority because they could not trace the Russian directors of the company, Leonoid Beyzer and Valuilin Rashid.

The lone Indian partner in the firm had resigned a couple of years ago. "I do not know about the whereabouts of Rashid. He should be contacted by the authorities. The company is registered with the registrar of companies, where the official address is also mentioned," Varma said.

Speaking to IANS, deputy collector Rajendra Mirajkar said the documents in his possession showed that Leonoid Beyzer continued to be associated with the company.

"As far as I know he is the director and he cannot be located. We are trying our best to do it. The notices are in the name of Leonoid Beyzer and Valiulin Rashid. The resort can be demolished only after notices are served to them," Mirajkar said.(IANS)