VIBHA VERMA

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PANJIM: As the inquiry into the infamous police-politician-drug mafia nexus is likely to conclude within a month, the team probing the nexus has decided not to interrogate suspects/accused already investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This comes as a major reprieve to police officials who faced suspension and were jail during the investigation eight years ago.

Goa Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed in 2017 to exclusively probe into the 96-page House Committee Report on drugs, is also expected to keep alleged drug peddlers David Driham aka Dudu and Yaniv Benaim aka Atala out from its ongoing inquiry. 

“Our team is thoroughly inquiring into every person covered in the House Committee report. However, those who were investigated by CBI cannot be further investigated as it is not legally possible as a chargesheet has already been filed. We are nevertheless inquiring into the matter from all angles,” SIT chief SP Kartik Kashyap said on being approached by Herald to comment on the interrogations so far.

Then officials of the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) police inspector Ashish Shirodkar, police sub inspectors Punaji Gawas and Sunil Guddler, head constable Hussain Shaikh, and constables Saish Pokle, Sandip Parab and Ramchandra Kankonkar were amongst many others arrested on different charges related to narcotics trade in the State.

They were initially investigated by former Crime Branch (CB) sleuths and later CBI after the case was transferred to the central agency for an ‘unbiased investigation’. CBI’s 110-page chargesheet, filed before a local court in 2015, came as a set back as it found no evidence of the nexus except against one for forgery and cheating.

Sources in the Secretariat, closely monitoring the high-profile inquiry told Herald that retired Director General of Goa Police Kishen Kumar, IPS officer Veenu Bansal (former ANC SP in Goa), retired SP Mangaldas Desai, then deputy SP Chandrakant Salgaonkar and several others named in the report are unlikely to be quizzed sans proper information made available against them. 

“To substantiate allegations made in the report, the government constituted SIT. The team is investigating every person whose name emerges during the inquiry and testimony of suspects and witnesses. But if allegations against some have no basis, it is pointless questioning them. This, however, doesn’t mean government is sparing anybody in this case. Once the report is ready and submitted to the Home Department, a decision will be taken on whether to register a First Information Report (FIR) or not,” the senior bureaucrat said. 

The then DGP was criticised for not co-operating with the House Committee, whereas 16 police officials including Bansal, Desai, two DySPs, four PIs, two PSIs, one HC and five police constables were also identified in the report.  

While the controversy revolved around one Roy, the House Committee was formed for an inquiry as fingers were pointed at ex-home minister Ravi Naik and his son Roy. The Congress MLA’s son was recently quizzed along with five others and Herald has reliably learnt that Ravi Naik too will be summoned for deposition shortly.

The legislative panel, headed by then MLA Francisco (Mickky) Pacheco, had recommended a FIR against Roy and slammed Ravi Naik’s alleged involvement in the nexus.