PANJIM, JULY 16
Rubbishing allegations that the Goa police botched up the investigation into the high profile police-politician-drug mafia nexus, Director General of Police (DGP) Bhim Sain Bassi today asserted they were conducting a comprehensive and unbiased investigation.
“Our investigation is progressing professionally and scientifically…Our officers are under no pressure whatsoever. There is no favour or fear while carrying out the probe,” Bassi said on the sidelines of a two-day Interactive Seminar for ‘Investigating Officers of Goa’, Friday morning.
He however skirted the most-important question whether Roy, son of Home Minister Ravi Naik’s, was part of the drug mafia.
“I cannot predict the future…we ensure professional and a very clear investigation and we have taken it on merits to unearth the truth,” he replied.
At the same time, the police chief did not rule out questioning Roy to ascertain his involvement in the drug racket.
“The Investigating Officer has to decide…Anybody who has information of the crime will be examined,” he said.
Lucky Farmhouse, former girlfriend of the alleged drug peddler Yaniv Benaim aka Atala in an interview to an Israeli tabloid had alleged that Roy was also involved in the nexus.
The Crime Branch team has been severely criticized by the Opposition for allegedly botching up the investigation. Even National Students Union of India (NSUI), the Congress’s youth wing, charged the Deputy Superintendent of Police Chandrakant Salgaonkar of being hand in gloves with the drug lobby in Goa.
The Bombay High Court at Goa, while hearing bail pleas of seven tainted police officials made adverse remarks against the investigation. Following the court observations, the State in its written submission assured the High Court to appoint a senior officer to head the investigation, most likely an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer.
But the appointment of an IPS officer to head the investigation is unlikely, as the DGP is seemingly not interested.
“We have taken note of all observations and the weaknesses pointed out are taken care of… we will not close the case till a chargesheet is filed. The DySP is conducting a fair and pressure-free probe,” he claimed.
Fielding yet another question on whether the investigating officer had sidelined the DGP and Deputy Inspector General of Police by updating case details directly to Home Ministry, Bassi only replied that the case was moving without any interference.
