PANJIM: The Goa Police has transferred three Police Inspectors (PIs) attached to the Crime Branch in the midst of investigation into three sensational cases that rocked the State. The Police Inspectors handling grains smuggling case, some land grabbing cases and the recent fake call centre racket case have been transferred out of their positions. Though this may look like routine transfers but sources suggest that this may be an outcome of leadership change within the Crime Branch.

The transfer orders were published and circulated across the social media on Saturday. Among the 21 transfers the transfers of the three Police Inspectors attached to the Crime Branch have raised eyebrows. The police inspector investigating the grains smuggling case of the Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Theron D’Costa now stands transferred. He has been transferred to Colva Police Station.

Another Police Inspector Videsh Pilgaonkar who was attached to SIT Land Grabbing has been transferred out to Tiracol Coastal Security Police Station.

The Police Inspector who conducted the raid and is now investigating officer of the fake call centre racket case attached to the Crime Branch Police Inspector Vishwajit Chodankar has also been transferred. He will now hold charge of Traffic Cell of Pernem.

Yogesh Sawant is yet another Police Inspector from the Crime Branch who has been transferred out to Security unit in Panjim.

The Crime Branch has got two Police Inspectors for the transfers of their officers.

Superintendent of Police Crime Branch Nidhin Valsan was contacted and asked whether the officers will continue investigating land grabbing, Civil Supplies raid and fake call centre racket case, he said “No. The cases will now be given to new officers.”

It may be recalled that there have been constant discussions over the delay in investigation and hearing of the land grabbing cases and also the delay in finding the prime accused in the grains smuggling case. The transfers are now bound to put a spoke in the wheel of the investigation of this cases that are critical and of public importance.

When contacted SP Crime Branch Nidhin Valsan told Herald that other officers will be assigned those cases.

All’s not well at the Crime Branch?

PANJIM: Even as three police inspectors handling sensational cases have been shunted out of the Crime Branch, it has been reportedly learnt that out of the nine police inspectors (PIs) six had sought transfers, even to the Goa Reserve Police (GRP) or any side branch, as it is alleged that they have been victimised and harassed by one of their senior officers. Sources claim that the PIs had even met a top brass of the police at Panjim and informed him that they wanted to move out of the Crime Branch as it was not possible for them to serve under undue pressure from the ‘foul-mouthed officer’.

Sources on condition of anonymity revealed that after meeting the PIs, the top official from the police headquarters reprimanded the senior Crime Branch officer and asked him to give the PIs a free hand to perform their duties. Sources also told Herald that the senior officer also wanted the PIs out in order to have his own choice of PIs.