Drug nexus: Did the police lose track?
…Or have they lost interest?
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, APRIL 27
Even two months after the sensational case of the police-drug mafia nexus being officially handed over to the CID Crime Branch, the agency is yet to get the information on the properties of the six suspended policemen and the amount of drugs that has been missing from the police godowns.
Two months ago the media had exposed the links between the police and the drug mafia with the help of the video uploaded on youtube.com wherein the Israeli drug dealer Atala admitted links with police inspector Ashish Shirodkar.
Subsequently bowing to media pressure, the case was handed over to the Crime Branch. The six policemen were suspended and arrested five while one constable Sanjay Parab is still at large.
Apart from this, the Crime Branch seems to have failed in gathering any major evidence against anybody.
When questioned whether the Crime Branch has any info on the property acquired by the six policemen Crime Branch DySP Chandrakant Salgaokar had no answer.
“We still do not have property info on their properties as there are so many agencies involved like pannchayats, RTO, banks and sub-registrar we have written to them and awaiting their reply,” Salgaokar told reporters today.
When pointed out why did not take two months to get the info as even under right to information a person can get info within 30 days, Salgaocar said, “We will send reminders to all of them.”
A month ago, Crime branch officials searched the residence of some friends of Ashish under the pretext of getting info on properties. Sources said despite criticism, the policemen behave in very insensitive manner when they approach persons who are suspected to be friends of any accused. They may not even be friends, may be just acquaintance, but when the policemen go to their residence, they treat them including women, as if they are declared accused, sources said.
There are also complaints that phone calls are made to them saying ‘Saib’ (DySP or PI) has called them to the police station. One person questioned whether it was the procedure to be followed by the police department as anyone can play mischief or prank and put innocent person in trouble.
Not only the properties the Crime Branch does not even have the info on the amount of drugs missing from the maal khana.
Atala in the video had alleged that Shirodkar stole drugs from the court lockers and sold it to him.
“Let me make it very clear that in the maal khana there were some packets in sealed condition and some resealed while some were open,” he said adding “We want to know whether it was deliberately done or what?”.
Salgaokar said the Crime Branch is collecting information on how much of drugs have been sent for examination.
As of now, he said, 24 kgs of drugs in missing from the maal khana.
“We will ask for the purity of the remaining drugs from the Central Forensic lab in Hyderabad,” he said adding “the quantity could be same but the purity has to be checked.”
Asked why the delay in assessing the missing drugs, he replied, “Some drugs since 1988 have been lying in the godown have not been destroyed and it is difficult to assess the amount of drugs missing.”
