TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Preliminary inquiry (PE) into the alleged irregularities into the electrical work tendering at Police Training School (PTS), Valpoi has been stalled and there are clear indications getting from the ACB (Anti-Corruption Branch) that the inquiry won’t move ahead in order to protect the IPS Principal of the Police Training School, A V Deshpande
As expected, Herald has undeniably learnt that effort to block this inquiry into the gross irregularities by the principal of the Police Training School in Valpoi, which Herald had exposed, (under a series called Police Graft School) has been made from the very top of the organization.
The inquiry followed a series of exposes by Herald, on irregular electrical contracts for work to be carried out at the Police Training School, without any tenders and approvals.
There were two parallel inquiries initiated, one by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the other by the Deputy Inspector General of police. The DIG report was a watered down excuse of an inquiry with several serious allegations and questions raised by one of Deshpande’s junior officers completely ignored by the DIG in his inquiry
Sources have also claimed that ACB is trying to send the entire file and the DIG report to Chief Secretary soon to obtain approval for the closure of the inquiry.
ACB is yet to record the crucial statements of many officers (witnesses) who are directly linked to the investigation. Principal PTS Atmaram Deshpande and Vice Principal Gajanan Prabhudesai are yet to be called to record their statements at ACB. Besides them, PI PTS, Deepak Pednekar, Anthony Monseratte, Manoj Mardolkar, Vishwesh Karpe, PSI, Maralkar, PWD officials of Division (V), contractor, Supplier and the recruits are yet to be called to record their statements on the electrical tender allotment, breaking all administrative and central vigilance commission rules.
Unfortunately, relying on the spineless report of the DIG, ACB is trying its best to hush up the entire matter which was supposedly investigated under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Clearly, it’s impossible to impartially argue against the fellow officer from the ranks who has now become an IPS officer.
