PANJIM: Threats, intimidation and extortion: All in a day’s work for the men in khaki in Goa. The men in uniform are yet again in the news after extorting Rs 8,000 from adventure sports operator from Arambol, Pernem and then taking away his harness and glider from a hillock as the complainant refused to pay additional protection money to the police.
The accused head constable Sanjay Talkar has moved the court for anticipatory bail and now the Directorate of Vigilance has been directed by the court not to arrest him till pre-bail application is disposed by the court. The matter has been now fixed for arguments on Monday and an FIR has been filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The story of cops demanding the pound of flesh to let Pruthvi H N to carry on with his trade dates back to December. Pruthvi operates a paraglider-low panorama adventure sports activity at Keri-Pernem, with a valid registration certificate No, ADVN000016 dated December 17, 2023 issued by the Tourism Department.
In a complaint to the ACB, Pruthvi stated that in December he was approached by the cop who alleged that his business activity was illegal and he was directed by his boss at the Tiracol Coastal Police Station to seize his glider.
The complainant then stated that his business activity was legal and then took the number of the then PI and met him and furnished his permissions.
He was then directed again by the then PI to meet Head Constable Sanjay Talkar, who then provided him with his mobile contact number 886022508 and asked to meet him at the beach shack.
“His boss too was there and they demanded to pay Rs 10,000 to the police to carry on with my trade on a monthly basis and threatened to shut down my business if their demands were not met,” Pruthvi said.
Pruthvi stated that a negotiation was arrived at and the settled for Rs 8,000 through G Pay and the amount was transferred to Talkar’s cellphone number and he shared a screenshot.
Pruthvi was later directed by Talkar not to make payments via G Pay in future.
On March 16, 2024, Talkar allegedly approached Pruthvi to pay the balance amount for the next two months and when latter refused to do so, the head constable and another cop around 2.30 pm on March 22, 2024, came on the Paliem hillock and seized his glider.
“He told me that if my new boss comes to know that you are not paying then “tu marega” (you will die). Clear the charges and take your things,” Pruthvi said and refused to buckle down.
Pruthvi then filed a complaint with the ACB on the basis of the voice recordings and G Pay transactions.
The Goa Police suspended Sanjay Talkar, head constable attached to the Tiracol police station, who has now filed an anticipatory bail appolication.
A senior police officer on the condition of anonymity said that they will oppose the anticipatory bail as there are high and mighty names of former and present senior officers and stated that more skeletons are likely to tumble out of the cupboard as there is corroborative evidence furnished by the complainant.
He also stated that the cops at the Tiracol coastal security police station have prepared a false report against the complainant and have booked him under Goa Tourist Malpractices Act and without even following the proper protocol.
“You cannot seize any equipment beyond your jurisdiction without serving a notice and by not following standard operating procedures,” he added.
PI Melson Fernandes is investigating the case under the supervision of DySP Rajan Nigale and SP Nelson Albuquerque.
Pruthvi told O Heraldo that after a complaint was lodged against the cops he received dire threats and subsequently another FIR was registered.
