PANJIM, JAN 19
In what could be a forthright attitude against criticisms of being incompetent, Goa police today claimed that its Special Investigation Team (SIT) did a far better job that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2009-Margao blast case.
“If we have noted, SIT has done a commendable job in the Margao bomb blast case. NIA to this has done few or less to the case. Major job was done by the SIT,” police spokesperson Superintendent of Police Atmaram Deshpande told reporters.
Reacting to allegations that SIT has a bad experience in investigating sensational cases like Margao blast and temple desecrations, Deshpande said that the agency ‘does not sit over cases.’
“NIA has verified the probe but nothing could be challenged or not a single thing could be changed in the Margao blast probe. It is not right to say that SIT is a total failure. SIT looks into the complexity of a case. Not that we will sit over the cases. Someday we will crack the cases,” he replied
Probe into the Margao blast that occurred in October 16, 2009 was soon handed over to the NIA from the SIT. NIA in its chargesheeted before a Margao Court held 11 persons responsible for the blast.
SIT earlier assisted the Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad wherein two members of the Hindu right wing involved in the explosion were killed.
The officer said that the same SIT members are probing into the police-drugs nexus expose wherein Police Sub-Inspector Sunil Gudlar was caught on spy-cam video allegedly selling drugs to two foreign women.
“The mandate of SIT is working on a focused activity and action. The team has taken over the probe from where Crime Branch (CB) had left…it is building what CB has already done and filling in the gaps of the inquiry,” he said.
A day after the spy-cam expose, Goa Police handed over the probe to the CB that submitted its report to the Director General of Police Bhim Sain Bassi, last week.
Following this, Gudlar was suspended pending departmental enquiry. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in an urgent call suggested formation of SIT to probe into every aspect of the tapes.
The sting on the PSI was conducted by Israeli drug lord David Driham alias Dudu’s sister Ayala and his Kazak girlfriend Zarina in association with an Israeli media agency.
“SIT is conducting every possible inquiry…any person connected with the case will be subjected for inquiry including Ayala as she is the main person (carrying out the sting),” he said.
Goa Police have also taken cognizance of the photographs published in Herald last week wherein Dudu, Ayala, Zarina and other alleged drug peddlers are seen partying at Dudu’s residence.
The photographs were clicked by unidentified person(s) days before Dudu was arrested in February 21, 2010.
Sources say that it was allegedly a drug-laced party. Deshpande requested the media to hand over the photographs for inquiry.
