Team Herald
PANJIM: Following the failure of the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) to probe SP A V Deshpande for the last three months over the irregularities at Police Training School (PTS), Advocate Aires Rodrigues on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) against Deshpande alleging gross corruption.
ACB had registered a preliminary enquiry against Deshpande in April following the report in Herald over violations while carrying out electrical works at PTS Valpoi.
In his complaint addressed to Chief Vigilance Commissioner K V Chowdary, Rodrigues stated that he was constrained to file the complaint with the CVC as the vigilance authorities in Goa have been ‘acting as caged parrots in shielding and trying to cover up the illegalities by the delinquent officer’.
Pointing out that the alleged illegal acts by Deshpande have been highlighted and exposed by ‘Herald’, Rodrigues has attached copies of all the newspaper reports on the illegalities to his complaint.
He has also alleged that the government, despite being fully aware of the alleged corrupt acts of Deshpande, has been high-handedly shielding him.
Rodrigues has also drawn the attention of the Chief Vigilance Commissioner that Deshpande despite his transfer out of Goa on his induction into the IPS has been able to stay back in Goa for the last four years.
Rodrigues has stated that considering that Deshpande was an IPS officer and the alleged offence has been committed as an IPS officer, it was imperative that the investigation ought to be conducted by CVC.
Seeking immediate investigation into the case, Rodrigues also sought stringent action against Deshpande so that it serves as a deterrent to other officers.
Rodrigues has also demanded a thorough probe into all the assets acquired by Deshpande and his relatives.
Herald has been following up the investigation at the ACB. Herald has been accused by SP ACB Bosco George that it is running a media trial and that the allegations are false.
Deshpande was relieved on Tuesday and posted to Andaman and Nicobar islands.
