PANJIM: In a surprise move Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) Chief, SP Bosco George, accompanied by PWD officials visited the Police Training School (PTS) Valpoi on Monday and inspected electrical works carried out by PWD contractor Vishwas Dhumatkar. ACB is investigating gross irregularities at PTS carried out by the school Principal SP A V Deshpande (IPS).
Sources at the PTS could not reveal details and ACB has refused to answer any questions on the issue. Herald had exposed the dealing at the PTS and has been extensively reporting on how the ACB chief has been trying to shelter his batch mate Deshpande.
There is a major difference in the work tendered, ordered and actually carried out. Work carried out on instructions of the PTS Principal could not be certified by the PWD technical engineer, sources at PWD’s Tonca Caranzalem office said, as work carried out by adjusting funds is not permissible.
Glaring evidence of the work at PTS Valpoi can be seen from the ceiling fans. As per the quotation, the contractor quoted Rs 1750 per Bajaj fan and 109 fans were installed in the PTS. Sources said that most of the fans installed are duplicate and currently not working. The cost of the duplicate fans varies between Rs 600 and Rs 700 each. The bills have not yet been settled.
ACB, which is reluctant to complete its preliminary enquiry against Deshpande has so far not recorded the statements of crucial witnesses besides that of Upper Division Clerk (UDC) Rajaram Gawas.
There were 82 staffers attached to the PTS from September 2013 to February 2014, of which the statement of only one UDC has been recorded by the ACB in the 81-day-long preliminary enquiry. On the other hand ACB has made every attempt possible to close the inquiry against Deshpande.
