PANJIM, JUNE 30
Registrar of Co-operative Societies P K Pattidar who was allegedly caught red-handed accepting a bribe on Tuesday was suspended today pending inquiry.
The Director Vigilance Arun Desai speaking to Herald said the file regarding the suspension of the officer was moved by him along with the report. The decision of suspension was left to the disciplinary committee.
When questioned if Pattidar could be taken into police custody, the director stated that the decision on the arrest solely lies on the Superintendent of ACB.
“Under the prevention of Corruption Act the SP is the complainant and if he deems right, he can arrest the officer”, Desai stated adding, the Vigilance has already searched the premises and other places for gathering evidence.
The senior scale officer, who also holds additional charge as Director of Animal Husbandry, was allegedly trapped by the ACB yesterday while taking a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a contractor for release of his payment. Officials also raided the registrar’s house in a bid to get an account of his assets.
ACB Superintendent Bosco George told Herald that since the amount was small it was my decision not to arrest him. If at all it was in lakhs I could have arrested him, he said.
He, however, refused to say anything on the findings so far.
