PANJIM: The District and Sessions Court on Wednesday granted five days police custody to Sabaji Shetye who was arrested by Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Tuesday after accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000.
Shetye, who is currently admitted in the Goa Medical College and Hospital, has also applied for bail. The Court heard the bail arguments and reserved its order for Thursday afternoon.
Opposing the bail application, ACB said that custodial interrogation is a must to unearth more links of properties that may have been secured by him with wealth earned through corrupt means.
ACB told the court that the investigation of the case is in the initial stage and after the arrest Shetye has been admitted in GMC as he complained of uneasiness.
“Since the accused is admitted he could not be interrogated. The offence committed by the accused is very serious in nature and a white collar crime and a blot on society which is condemned by every citizen. The presence of the accused is required in police custody for his interrogation as the complainant has stated that the accused has demanded more bribe amount to clear revalidation of NOCs of storage of explosives from the complainant and this aspect needs to be clarified confronting the accused with the complainant,” ACB said before the court.
ACB further stated that the accused is a highly influential person in society and can influence witnesses and may also destroy evidence if granted bail.
“Custodial interrogation is required to attach and find out details of his assets and bank details and interrogate him regarding his bank lockers to find out where he has kept his ill-gotten cash, gold, property papers by way of bribes,” ACB submitted to the court.
ACB also said that if Shetye is granted bail then it will send a wrong signal and no one will come forward to file such cases of demands by public servants.
“The offence registered against accused will serve as deterrent and encourage more people to come forward against such corrupt government servants in order to finish corruption in the society,” ACB stated.
Shetye, was arrested by ACB on June 6 at the North Goa Collectorate building after accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000 from an engineering consultant.
