Team Herald
PANJIM: The shocking discovery of government servant Shridhar Satarkar’s body in cash-for-government-job scam has prompted political leaders and activists to demand that the case be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a judicial commission be appointed under a retired High Court judge and two district court judges to nail the culprits.
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They termed the investigation by the Goa Police as biased and directed towards avoiding particular bigwigs out of it and that’s the reason a government servant committed suicide.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State president Adv Amit Palekar said, “I am not happy with the investigation being carried out by the Goa Police. It is biased and directed towards avoiding particular bigwigs out of it. That is why probably a government servant committed suicide because he was made a scapegoat for the sin committed by somebody else. I think the road leads to the Chief Minister.”
The AAP has demanded that either the case be transferred to the CBI or a judicial commission be appointed under the retired High Court judge and two district court judges.
“Because there is abetment of suicide by the government. The case has to be thoroughly investigated by the government and I think blood of the suicide is on the hands of the Chief Minister. It is just the tip of the iceberg,” Palekar feels.
The Opposition feels that the job scam is not superficial. It is much deeply-rooted and “government officials, the State cabinet and the BJP are involved in it.” Adv Palekar added, “That is why the scamsters, who were driven out of the party, have been brought back again.”
Former Goa Government Employees’ Association (GGEA) president M L Shetkar said, “Government should take strict action and go to the root cause of the issue. One person cannot do it without the involvement of others. The first case itself should have been investigated thoroughly. The case should be handed over to the CBI or some other agencies like a task force under the supervision of a retired judge.”
All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) joint secretary Adv Raju Mangueshkar said, “I am not happy with whatever investigation is being done by the Goa Police in the matter, particularly after the alleged suicide by the co-accused in the case. The matter is very serious. There may be direct involvement of some of the top political bosses in the case. He might have been driven to take this drastic step. As it is a serious matter, I think it should be handed over to a proper investigating agency.”
However, political commentator Trajano D’Mello differed on handing the case to the CBI. “The government job scam has reached alarming proportions. By handing over the investigation to Central agencies like CBI, which are known to be dancing to the tunes of powers, the truth will never be unearthed. Only an inquiry by a retired High Court judge may reveal the truth as people holding power seem to be involved in the job scam,” he said.
