Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government has been reluctant to pave the way for promotion of six police inspectors to the rank of Deputy Superintendents of Police (DYSPs) despite recommendation by Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC) nearly a fortnight ago.
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GPSC recommended that Police Inspectors (PIs) Prabodh Shirwaikar, Harishchandra Madkaikar, Santosh Desai, Uday Parab, Sandesh Chodankar and Sheikh Salim be promoted to DYSPs.
Undoubtedly, at least 50% of those promoted have had controversial tenure while they also faced either suspension or departmental inquiry over serious charges leveled against them. However, the government’s stoic silence to confirm their promotion has sparked a debate.
Sources said that some in the Cabinet have been opposing to the promotion of a few. The very controversial Sandesh Chodankar is one reason. In the beginning of 2011, the officer was suspended for the death of seafarer Cypriano Fernandes in police custody.
He was the in-charge of the Panjim Police Station then. Chodankar, a Police Sub Inspector (PSI) and a constable were suspended and faced multiple inquiries.
3 years later, they were reinstated after disciplinary proceedings ‘partially proved charges’ of administrative lapses and major procedural lapses into Fernandes’ preventive arrest, against them. A report also indicted the PI for failing to take action against the erring officials allegedly involved in the custodial killing. The reports are now forgotten.
Chodankar was soon posted at Crime Branch’s anti-burglary/ theft squad and once again ran into controversy. Herald was the only to report that in 2015, the PI had executed an extortion plan to perfection but one of his team members exposed the scam.
It was a plan to raid an Ayurvedic centre that ran its premises from Alfran Plaza without a registration name. A constable had told the dept’s inquiry team that Chodankar along with the six constables barged into the centre and threatened to raid. Fearing, the concerned person heeded to the demand of Rs 7 lakh. But while Shatun Shetye received Rs 50,000 of the extorted money, remaining constables got meager Rs 10,000 each. Chodankar allegedly kept Rs 6 lakh with himself but an upset team member blew the lid. He was once again suspended and Crime Branch took over the probe. The case like many others was forgotten.
Just recently, Minister Michael Lobo launched an attack against Chodankar calling him the most corrupt officer.
If not only him, Police Inspectors Uday Parab and Salim Sheikh also were under radar. In 2011, Parab was accused of accepting bribe from a truck driver at Mapusa. The activist, who recorded the dealing, had charged the PI with assaulting him. Earlier, in 2010, the State Police Complaints Authority had directed disciplinary inquiry against Parab, a PSI and constable for “playing an active role in a conspiracy” against a Colva “mundkar” to deprive him of mundkarial rights.
PI Sheikh was once convicted by the High Court (HC) of Bombay at Goa and punished with penalty of Rs 15,000 for violation of human rights by parading two accused in handcuffs in Panjim and Taleigao.
The court had also asked the Police Department to conduct disciplinary action against both inspectors whereas in 2011, the HC was hearing into a plea that accused him of disobeying lower court’s order directing him to file a charge sheet in an assault case.
Amidst uncertainty regarding their promotions, the Chief Minister will be chairing Cabinet meet on Wednesday.
