PANJIM: With Goa Police tight-lipped on the alleged role of Pernem Police Inspector Sandesh Chodankar in the illegal party at Arambol, Ports Minister Michael Lobo has decided to officially write to the department demanding action against the officer.
“The party cannot be just organized. The PI is showing ignorance. What more proof the police higher-ups need when the pictures of the party had gone viral? Locals are also in the know but they are scared to speak up due to political and police pressure. The incident should be investigated,” Lobo said.
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The minister, who represents another tourist hot spot – Calangute constituency, also made serious allegations of ‘corruption’ and ‘custodial death’ against Chodankar. The letter, likely to be submitted to the Inspector General of Police Jaspal Singh on Friday, will also demand replacing Chodankar with another officer at Pernem Police Station. A similar letter has already been submitted to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday, Lobo said.
“An officer who has serious charges against him and was suspended should not be given the charge of an important police station. He should be posted in the reserve unit,” he said.
Lobo and Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar have been at loggerheads over the alleged illegal party by foreigners. Lobo, while speaking to reporters in the capital, denied targeting any political leader. “Babu (Ajgaonkar) is a tall leader… I am not speaking on any statement by him. The question is of corruption and corrupt officers will not be tolerated. Goa Police Department is clean but is such officers are let off, it will set a wrong precedent,” he said adding, “I am talking about one person who is misusing the uniform of Goa Police and trying to extort money in the name of police. I will never allow doing this.”
The police have denied taking action against the PI ‘unless specific instances’ while also refuting party in the coastal village of Arambol.
