All-party meet to decide on CBI probe: Ravi

PANJIM, AUG 25
Stating that the he would hand over the drug nexus case to CBI only if there is consensus among all parties, Home Minister Ravi Naik today said the case is nothing but a hype created by media and political parties are trying to gain free publicity out of it.
Addressing a press conference Naik, whose son has been linked to drug trade, said the Government will hold an all-party meet on the issue.
“We will discuss this at an all-party meeting and only if need be we will hand over the case to CBI”, he said.
He further questioned the CBI’s credibility in solving the cases.
“Four years ago we handed over a case of misappropriation funds for IFFI 2004 and gave them total evidence but still they are unable to solve it”, he said.
Naik also said that the drugs case was of no consequence and only a result of media hype.
He also said the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are raising the drug nexus case only because it gave them publicity in the media.
“What’s there in the drug nexus case? I don’t think there is anything great”, the home minister said.
“The political parties are raising the issue to gain free publicity. It costs (them) money to give advertisements in the media. By talking about drugs, they get free publicity”, Naik said adding “also as elections are closing in the parties have to show their high command they are doing some work”.
Atala, was arrested in March for his links with police-politician-drug mafia. Seven policemen have already been arrested in the case, in which Ravi Naik’s son Roy has been linked by Lucky Farmhouse, a Swedish model and Atala’s ex-girlfriend. Both Roy and Ravi have denied the charges.
Naik further asked why the Opposition was mum on the crucial issues of petrol pilferage at Zuari and the bomb blast at Margao.
“There are several such issues but the Opposition does not talk on it”, he said.
Asked about his statement in the Assembly that the politicians were raising the issue only because their haftas were stopped, he said, “we have received a complaint from Pernem against some politicians and will inform the media on the issue soon”.
“We have stopped the illegal business in the northern coastal belt which has stopped the money making business of the politicians who are now raising the issue of drugs”, he said.