TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Congress Secretary Sunil Kawthankar was on Friday questioned by the CID/Crime Branch sleuths at its Dona Paula office in connection with his complaint against the chief minister and others for alleged irregularities in the supply of e-tablets under the cyberage scheme.
The police took about an hour for recording Kawthankar’s statement, wherein he was asked to produce more documents to substantiate his allegations.
Kawthankar, on February 17 had filed a complaint against Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Chairman Infotech Corporation Subhash Faldesai, MD, e-tablets suppliers and other government officials for their alleged involvement in the scam.
With no FIR registered yet, Kawthakar alleged that a preliminary inquiry was an attempt to shield persons named in his complaint.
“It seems police are trying to wash their hands off and what has surprised me more is the fact I learned from Crime Branch, that the DIG is objecting to register FIR in this matter,” he said alleging political pressure to hush-up the case.
He said that he assured the investigating team that he would produce documents during the course of investigation and that the existing documents annexed with the original documents as enough to register an FIR.
“But my question to the Investigating Officer was never answered and despite sufficient documents they are asking for my appearance. Why have Chief Minister and other accused not been summoned in this scam to collect more evidence?” he alleged.
The Congressman also questioned the curiosity of CB officials to extract the name of his source through whom this scam has been exposed.
“The CID crime branch officials must complete the preliminary enquiry as soon as possible and register an FIR in this manner and thoroughly probe this Tabletgate scam as a delay will give the accused who are in positions of power, highly powerful and influential individuals, an upper hand to destroy the evidence and manipulate the facts,” he said.
