Team Herald
VASCO/PANJIM: Following verbal clashes between the Mormugao MLA and an Electricity Department employee, both sides on Saturday filed police complaints at the Mormugao and Panjim Police Stations.
The residents of Bogda in their complaint at the Mormugao Police Station against Kashinath Shetye, Electricity Department executive engineer and nodal officer of the land acquisition and asset management, alleged misconduct, wrongful restraint and unauthorised actions at a project site. The complaint has been filed under Sections 126(2), 127, 352, 351(2) (3), 324, 79 and 74 of the BNS.
Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar, who accompanied the residents, speaking to media persons, accused Shetye of using a “rent-a-car” vehicle for official duty and commencing work at the site well before government-mandated timings.
“Shetye arrived at 8.15 am and began work by 8.30 am, even though official government working hours start at 9:30 am. This proves that he was not on duty at the time of the incident,” Amonkar claimed.
Questioning the legality of Shetye’s actions, the MLA claimed that instead of using an official government vehicle or department-provided taxi, Shetye used a rent-a-car with a camera installed.
Shetye proceeded with the work without informing the local MLA, junior engineer, or assistant engineer, violating proper protocols, Amonkar alleged and claimed that despite several official correspondences requesting a joint inspection, Shetye ignored government directives and attempted to block a traditional pathway used by locals for over 50 years.
The MLA asked: “Why did Shetye bring a private JCB to the site when he was supposed to construct a compound wall. If he wanted to remove cables, he should have used a truck-mounted crane from the department. Why did he bring a JCB? What was his real intention?”
“Shetye resorted to high-handedness, behaving rudely with locals, especially women, and even pushing them aside when they requested him to wait for the MLA. He claimed that the area belonged to the Electricity Department, when in fact, it is a traditional public passage,” the BJP leader said.
“Shetye has trespassed, wrongfully restrained people, and abused his authority. His behaviour, including his rude treatment of an elected representative, is unacceptable. We demand strict action against him,” Amonkar said.
Earlier in the day, Kashinath Shetye in his a police complaint alleged that Omkar Durbhatkar, Yash Phadte, Sudir Tari, Yogesh Patil and others obstructed him while discharging his duties, trespassed into property of Electricity Department with an intent to commit an offence or to intimidate, obstructed him and other officers from proceeding in any direction and provoked them with intent to cause riot.
Speaking to media persons after filing the complaint, Shetye said he has filed the complaint under Sections 221, 329, 126, 192, 324(5) and 61 of BNS.
He also said he is considering legal action against Mormugao MLA for making a defamatory statement against him.
Shetye said he will carry out his work with police protection. “I have been challenged to carry out my work in his area. I will continue my work with an order from the Collector. I will bring it to the logical end. I am not doing my personal work but work for the department. There are orders of Rs 13 lakh and Rs eight lakh. The department will incur losses if the work is not carried out,” he said.
“We are government employees and our duty is to help people. We should not act like kings, but should give a helping hand to people. If someone is doing injustice to us, we should stand against it. I am not afraid of anyone. I have security, the government has provided me security,” he said.
The complaint has been filed with regards to an incident which occurred on February 28, 2025, at Bogda Electricity Department Property, Vasco, with a request to register zero FIR and transfer it to Mormugao Police Station.
Extending his support to Shetye, former Government Employees Association president John Nazareth said, “Shetye acted rightly, as pending dues needed to be addressed. A government servant, who has been assigned duties, should not be obstructed.”
Urging the current Government Employees’ Association to take up the issue, Nazareth said the government employees should stand with Shetye.