TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The death of Directorate of Mines employee Dattatray Bhave, whose suspension was revoked, has taken an interesting twist with the magisterial inquiry report confirming it as ‘suicide out of his own volition’ ruling out foul play as alleged earlier.
Assistant Geologist Bhave was found hanging at his residence in Ponda on September 21, 2012. The report, which was tabled in the State Legislative Assembly in response to an unstarred question, concluded the death as suicide.
Ironically, while the report claims that the family did not suspect foul play, the deceased’s brother deposed that suspension resulted in humiliation. The brother termed Bhave ‘an upright person and had no blemish at any point of his career.’
“The suspension from service, resulted in embarrassment to D Bhave…suspension amounted to humiliation as he along with others were made to report in the office of South Goa Collector which may perhaps have resulted in his mental balance being considerably shaken…It is because of this that D Bhave may have taken the drastic step of committing suicide,” the brother’s interrogation revealed.
Whereas his widow stated that her husband never complained of harassment. Bhave’s daughter Namrata told inquiry officer Deputy Collector (Ponda Sub Division) Johnson Fernandes that her father was innocent and was not involved in any activity which was detrimental to the interest of Goa.
Meanwhile, the report stated that Congress leader Sudip Tamankar’s complaint claiming that harassment prompted Bhave to commit suicide, has no base.
“It is based on hearsay. No substantial proof of evidence has been laid across the table…that suspension from services was the sole ground that led Bhave to commit suicide….Vague allegations that does not stand the test of scrutiny cannot form the basis of any FIR to charge-sheet any official,” the report mentions.
Tamankar had lodged a police complaint against Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for allegedly abetting suicide of a suspended mines and geology department official.
The marathon inquiry commented that authority will not be able to deliver thoughtful and rightful decision if blame-game approach was adopted in respect to the case.
“No proof has been given by Sudip Tamankar that the chief minister of Goa had said that suspension does not mean punishment and that threats have been given by him to various other government servants,” the inquiry officer remarked.
During the inquiry, call details of all mobile companies of three months prior to Bhave’s death were sought based on which various people were called for questioning. The report had also questioned the present and the ex-director of the mines department to clear doubts.
“The ex-director of mines (Arvind Lolienkar) was questioned as to whether the Shah Commission had enquired and interrogated the officials of the mines department to which he stated that no such interrogations were conducted by them but only reports were called which were duly complied and given to them,” the report stated.
The present director of mines Prassanna Acharya had said that it was imperative to place the officials under suspension to dig out the truth.
“Director of mines Prassanna Acharya stated that ever since he assumed that charge somewhere on April 2 or April 3, 2012 he has been given to understand that the Shah Commission has not inquired into the working style of the officers/ officials which may have led to leakages in the revenue or over exploitation of the resources for failure on the part of some officials to plug the loopholes…”
Bhave who handled granting of NOCs for export was suspended after the Shah Commission report on illegal mining was tabled in the Lok Sabha, on September 12, 2012. The Assembly was also informed that five other officers who were suspended along with Bhave still remained under suspension.
