Team Herald
PANJIM: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa President, Amit Palekar has accused the Old Goa Police Station of harassment, alleging that the repeated summons for questioning in the Suleman Khan alias Siddiqui case are an undue burden. He further claimed that the police are mishandling the case.
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After being questioned for over an hour, Palekar expressed frustration that the individuals named and accused in the case have yet to be called in for investigation or to have their statements recorded. “I am being summoned for questioning, which makes me feel as if I am an accused. I am not; I am a witness. The actual accused has already been sent to judicial custody,” Palekar said.
“It is surprising that the people named in the case have not been called to give their statements,” he added.
Palekar also demanded that Deputy Superintendent of Police (SP) Suraj Halarnkar and Crime Branch SP be called in for questioning. “Accusations have been made against them, and they should be summoned to record their statements,” he insisted.
He criticised the ongoing investigation, highlighting that the same officers who are allegedly involved in the case are tasked with its inquiry. “It is inconceivable why the first video sent by Suleman has not been investigated. This entire investigation seems to be a political vendetta, which is unacceptable,” Palekar remarked.
Suleman is currently in judicial custody in connection with a jail escape case registered at Old Goa Police Station. The Crime Branch had filed an application before the Sessions Court in Panjim seeking Suleman’s custody for further investigation into three land-grabbing cases in which he is the prime suspect. However, the court had earlier rejected this application.
Palekar also alleged that the police had not shown interest in probing the first video sent by Suleman, in which he accused police officials of aiding his escape. While Constable Amit Naik has been dismissed from service and is currently out on bail, Head Constable Samir Kandolkar, a jail guard, remains under suspension.
