Team Herald
PANJIM: In a setback to Panjim Police, the Chief Judicial Magistrate on Wednesday declined its request to close the cheating and misappropriation case registered against Goa’s then Urban Development Secretary R P Pal in the year 2008. CJM Ram Prabhudesai has further directed the police to complete its investigation within two months and submit a report by November 22.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
During the hearing, the Panjim Police sought closure of the case stating that although the complaint against R P Pal and his wife was true, there was no evidence against the duo.
Advocate Aires Rodrigues, on September 1, 2008 lodged a complaint against the couple for allegedly conspiring to dishonestly misappropriate and cheat the Corporation of the City of Panaji. The complainant had stated that Rs 147 per day was being illegally paid by the CCP to Putul Pal. The amount was being paid as a daily wage sweeper under a fake name of Rakeshwari Hannur while the cashier of the CCP was handing over the money periodically to Putul Pal and her thumb impression was being obtained on the receipts.
Rodrigues had also alleged that R P Pal and Putul Pal were fraudulently drawing from the Secretariat funds the salary of a nonexistent NMR (Non Muster Roll) worker in the fake name of Mayarani Sharma.
A week after the FIR was registered. R P Pal was elevated to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and posted at Lakshadweep. He was later transferred to Puducherry where he settled after his retirement.
