CALANGUTE: For long, we have heard of the police-criminal nexus in the drugs and the prostitution rackets. But now a major nexus between the police and restaurant owner charged in drugs and prostitution racket cases has been unearthed.
Inquiries have revealed that a bar and restaurant shut down by locals for illegal activities of drugs and prostitution has been re-started by a police inspector’s wife without a licence from either the panchayat, or Excise, or Food and Drugs Administration.
In 2013, Calangute panchayat revoked the licence of ‘Cricketers’, a restaurant and pub, following an attack on locals by bouncers employed by the pub owner.
With the panchayat withdrawing its licence, the pub was forced to close business. But the owner challenged the panchayat’s order withdrawing the licence, before the Director of Panchayat which ordered the panchayat to restore the licence.
Herald understands that despite this order, the panchayat was reluctant to restore the licence to Mishra fearing a backlash from the villagers.
According to locals the owner, Abhishek Mishra, running the bar and restaurant, at Naika Waddo, was involved in illegal business such as trafficking of women, attempt to murder etc. When they went to question him they were beaten up badly by the bouncers. Even the Calangute MLA had written a note stating Mishra is involved in illegal activities and criminal cases have been registered at Calangute and Anjuna police stations.
It is now learnt that the owner has entered into an agreement with Sarita Gad, wife of police inspector Devendra Gad, currently posted as Pernem PI, who has been in the past accused of protecting the flesh trade in an around Porvorim.
Moreover, Mrs Gad has started the Bar and Restaurant without the panchayat licence or the Excise licence.
In fact documents accessed by Herald reveal that the Calangute panchayat has rejected the application of license to Mishra on November 26 as it has been sublet to someone else.
On the same day, the Calangute panchayat has written to the PI Calangute to immediately stop the operation as it is being illegally operated in the name of ‘Cricketers’.
“We fear fights and also unwanted activities such as prostitution are going on in and around the said premises and therefore you are kindly requested to take necessary action at the earliest,” the letter by Acting Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira reads.
The locals complain that despite this the police have failed to take any action. “This proves the nexus between the police and criminals. We have approached the Calangute PI Tushar Vernekar several times but he has not taken any action,” says Save Calangute President Kundan Kerkar. Kerkar, however, added, “The PI now says he has written to the DySP, who in turn will write to Dy Collector for sealing the premises.”
“We know Mishra is merely using the name of Mrs Gad but is himself running the business under the guise of subletting it, as he knows the locals would not permit him to do so,” said Kerkar, adding “if the police do not act immediately things may become violent as people do not want such illegal places to start in Calangute again”.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said he fears there might be a law and order situation if the restaurant remains open. “I have asked the PI to immediately seal it but for that there is a procedure. He has to write to DySP, who in turn will write to Collector, who has the authority to close the premises,” Lobo said.
When contacted, PI Devendra Gad, admitted that his wife is running the business but ruled out any illegalities. “I have an order from Director of Panchayat for issuance of licence,” he said.
When asked whether he has a license from Panchayat, FDA and Excise, he had no answer. Also when questioned whether he knew that criminal cases have been registered against Abhishek Mishra, he replied in the negative. “I have no idea about his background, we wanted to run the business and that’s it. What have I got to do with his background,” he replied.
Attempts by Herald to contact Calangute PI were futile.
