CM says SSP not supposed to talk to press
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: It’s official. The government has shunted out Special Public Prosecutor Adv Rajiv Gomes from representing the State before the Special Judge, Margao in the Canacona building case, with Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar saying he has accepted the police recommendation to withdraw the appointment of Adv Gomes, accusing him of going to the media as if he was representing an NGO.
Senior government Public Prosecutor, Sarojini Sardinha, who had proceeded on long leave, will now represented the State when the bail application of arrested former Canacona Chief Officer Dipak Desai comes up for hearing before Special Judge, Nutan Sardesai on Monday. Sources said Crime Branch officials have already briefed Sarojini Sardinha about the case, but she is believed to have insisted that the government issues the order of her appointment before she steps in the court of the Special Judge on Monday morning.
“I had exercised patience all these days. But, when the police finally recommended the SSP’s replacement, I have signed and okayed the request. Our senior public prosecutor, who was on leave, has agreed to cut shot her leave and appear before the Special court on Monday. This is a high profile case and the government was keen to have a senior prosecutor to protect the interest of the State”, Parrikar told newsmen on the sidelines of the function held to lay the foundation stone for the sewerage treatment plant at Sirvodem-Navelim.
“The SPP is supposed to talk to the police and the government and not to the press. He has talked to the media as if he is an NGO. A SSP is not supposed to reveal government strategy in the court to the media. It’s a court matter and you cannot discuss with the media how you are going to fight the case”, Parrikar said, defending the government decision to replace Adv Gomes.
But, when media drew the attention of Parrikar that SPP had raised doubts about the shoddy investigations, he said “the SPP is not supposed to go into the investigations at all. We are mixing the roles here. A SPP is supposed to argue in a bail matter. No doubt, he can advise the government secretly and not through the media. Will you allow your lawyer to discuss your matter with the media. The government is also a client and the SPP has to discuss any matter with the government in confidence and not via the media”, the CM further defended, adding “if the police fails in the investigations, the Public prosecutor cannot talk to the media, but to the government”.
Adv Gomes had earned the wrath of the police top brass after he made a submission to the court that the investigation officers had failed to arrest the two former Canacona Chief officers Dipak Desai and Pradip Naik, prompting Special Judge Nutan Sardesai to summon Crime Branch, SP Karthik Kashyap before the court to file a status report on the progress of investigations. The police had also sounded critical of the letter written by Adv Gomes to arrest the two former Chief Officers, with SP Kashyap repeatedly maintaining that arrests of any accused in a crime is the prerogative of the investigating officer.
