PANJIM, AUG 5
Claiming that his son is being framed in the drug nexus case, Home Minister Ravi Naik today virtually refused to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigating.
“There is no evidence to prove my son’s involvement in the drugs case”, Naik, who came to the Assembly for the first time, after long illness, said.
The home minister alleged that few political leaders were leveling allegations against him and his son, Roy, because “they (politicians) were not getting protection money (hafta) from the drug dealers”.
“We have shut all the drug parties. There are raids on drug peddlers. Such a massive action was never taken in the past. Few political leaders are disturbed by my crusade against the trade”, he alleged.
Naik said that allegations against him are not backed by any evidence. “Is there any evidence against me or my son? Some leaders are talking in the air”, Naik said.
Lucky Farmhouse, former wife of alleged Israeli drug dealer Atala, and Fiona Mackeown, mother of British teenager Scarlet Keeling, who was allegedly raped and murdered at Anjuna, have claimed the home minister’s son Roy Naik’s involvement in the drug nexus.
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has disrupted the proceedings of the Assembly six times so far demanding a CBI probe into the issue.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who took questions on Home has so far refused to hand over the case to the CBI saying the police were executing investigation professionally.
Naik, who met the reporters today, said that Goa Police is capable of investigating the nexus case, virtually ruling out the possibility of handing it over to CBI.
“Why do we need CBI”, he asked, stating police has the required machinery to probe the allegations of nexus.
“There is a proper system that needs to be followed…. There are various police officers who are monitoring the investigation”, Naik claimed.
Naik has said that he would make a statement in the Assembly tomorrow, over the allegations made by several leaders.
Referring to the claims made by Israeli drug peddler’s former girlfriend, Lucky Farmhouse that Roy was visiting their place in Goa, Naik said that it is easy for anyone to sit in Sweden and make allegations.
“With internet coming handy, anyone can talk anything and circulate it. Let her back it by proper evidence”, he said.
Seven policemen were arrested after Israeli drug dealer Yaniv Benaim alias Atala confessed of his links with policemen in anti-narcotic cell.
