PANJIM: In a major relief to Goa’s former Superintendent of Police (Anti Corruption Branch) Priyanka Kashyap, Goa Lokayukta has closed suo motu proceedings over allegations of failing to register FIR against ex-minister Pandurang Madkaikar in a disproportionate assets case.
Former Lokayukta Justice P K Misra in September 2020 had directed the ACB to register First Information Report against Madkaikar while observing that SP Kashyap had entirely failed in discharging her duty in accordance with law. The then Lokayukta also directed that suo motu proceedings be initiated against her for gross dereliction of duty stating that appropriate punishment was required to be imposed on SP Priyanka Kashyap.
The officer currently posted as Deputy Commissioner of East Delhi had urged the Lokayukta last December to drop the proceedings while submitting that she was singled out and others have been left without action.
“Suo motu cognisance against SP Kashyap alone is ex facie a judicial cognisance of singling out said officer and impliedly pardoning the rest while letting all other scot free,” her submission read as.
She had also said that further action by the ACB could not have been initiated and the FIR thus could not be lodged because as directed by the former CM Goa, the ACB awaited the outcome of the inquiry which was already initiated by the Institution of Lokayukta.
