PANJIM: Congress has questioned the credibility of Goa Police to investigate the politician-police-drug mafia nexus exposed in the House Committee report in 2013. The Opposition has said that if the government is serious about investigating the findings of the report, it should hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or bring the case under the domain of the High Court.
“How can Goa Police investigate the nexus themselves?” AICC Secretary Girish Chodankar asked, demanding to know on what basis the police will investigate offences against some of its former and present colleagues and seniors.
“The case should have been a High Court monitored investigation or by CBI. Culprits and accused cannot become judge. This is just eyewash as everyone knows outcome of the special investigation team (SIT),” he stated.
His reaction comes a day after Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said the government would be setting up a SIT under Crime Branch (CB) to probe the nexus.
Congress’ general secretary Sunil Kawthankar, who is the original complainant against the father-son duo, a CBI officer and two senior officials from Goa Police in connection with the drug nexus case, has refused to comment on the development. “It will be premature to make any statement unless there is visible outcome of any government action,” he said.
Kawthankar, as then Vice Chairman of the National Students Union of India (Goa) had lodged a complaint with Crime Branch, and the matter was then taken up in the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
Anti-Narcotics Cell SP Kartik Kashyap said they will look into the case or start investigation once they are in receipt of the order.
The House Committee had also recommended action against former ANC SP Veenu Bansal, ex-SP Mangaldas Desai, three police inspectors and others including a panch witness.
