MARGAO, JAN 20
Ruling out political interference in the Crime Branch decision to file charge sheet against former Minister Mickky Pacheco in the Casino case, Home Minister Ravi Naik has said he is fit and fine and is ready to field any questions on the Floor of the Goa Legislative Assembly pertaining to his department.
“Where is the question of political interference in the filing of the chargesheet. I don’t interfere in police investigations. The investigation officer never consults me on these matters. If at any time, they need any advise, the IO consults the police higher ups and not the Home Minister”, Ravi said, while reacting to Pacheco’s allegations that the Crime Branch filed the charge sheet against him to divert public attention from the drugs case and Cypriano’s custodial death.
Reacting to Pacheco’s prayer that he (Ravi) enjoy good health this time and attend the Assembly session to answer queries relating to the police-drug nexus and the deteriorating law and order situation, the Home Minister said that was conspicuous by his absence from the last session on account of his hospitalisation. “This time round, I am fit and will definitely attend the Session and will reply to the questions on all issues pertaining to my department”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Home Minister said that the government has appointed DySP Bossuet D’Silva to inquire into Cypriano’s custodial death case not to scuttle the ongoing Magisterial inquiry, but to unearth the truth in the episode.
Both he and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat maintained that the DySP has been told to immediately submit a preliminary report on the case saying the government is firm in initiating action to send a clear message that the law will not spare no one.
