any person can be considered for investigation: Police
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JAN 24
Goa police today said that anyone besides police sub-inspector Sunil Guldar can be considered in the police-drug nexus case investigation.
Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Saturday registered a case against Gudlar who was caught on spy-cam tapes selling drugs to two women, who were kin of the jailed drug lord David Driham alias Dudu.
The case under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Prevention of Corruption act and Section 120 (B) of Indian Penal Code has been registered against Guddler and others, without specifying others names.
“Section 120(B) of the IPC is very wide and open. Whoever, even the person who is not named can be considered. It is a matter of investigation and the investigating officer has to decide,” Police spokesperson Atmaram Deshpande told reporters when asked to specify names of “others” in the First Investigation Report (FIR).
The FIR was registered after civil right activists led by Kashinath Shetye and Ketan Govekar approached the local Court stating that the police were reluctant to act in the drug nexus case.
The complaint letter named former SP Veenu Bansal, who is now posted in Arunachal Pradesh and “Roy”, as being involved in the nexus.
Replying to a question on why “others” were not specified, Deshpande stated that the on-going investigation will summon persons “as and when identified and confirmed.”
The officer denied that there has been any delay in taking action against Gudlar or probing into the matter.
“If the investigation points out at any things or person, it will precede in such direction…It is a fact finding process and lot of discoveries happen. Discoveries of fact are a major component…” he said.
Responding to yet another query, Deshpande said that Gudlar’s arrest will be decided by the investigating officer depending on the investigation.
“If custodial interrogation is important, then an arrest can take place but if it is a normal investigation or interrogation, then an arrest is not mandatory. It again depends on the lines of the investigation,” he said.
Gudlar was caught on camera negotiating with the two women over the sale of drugs. After an inquiry by the Crime Branch, Gudlar was placed under suspension and is currently facing probe by the SIT.
