This is how Ravi Naik ducked tough questions
Says I have never heard of Ayla and Zarina
Till the home minister stuck to his prepared press statement, he was fine, but as reporters began probing further, the Home Minister started dodging. Here’s a sample put together by the team of Herald reporters on the spot.
Q: Why is Manohar Parrikar not quizzed as yet if you claim that there are evidences against him of being involved in drugs trade? (This question was asked at least three times)
A: Kept dodging the question.
Q: Why did you announce that the police-drug mafia nexus probe was being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) much after a delay of three months?
A: Dodged the question. (Said ask the “Chief Secretary”, who incidentally is the Home Secretary)
(When the same question was asked again, there was change of reply)
Q: Why there was a delay of three months to hand over the case to the CBI?
A: There is a procedure to be followed. Opposition parties should understand that referring the case to the CBI takes time and we cannot avoid procedures.
Q: Roy Naik’s name is constantly figuring in the drugs case?
A: There are so many Roy’s. I have evidence to show that Manohar Parrikar was linked to Roy Fernandes in drug dealing.
Q: What is the full name of Vaigankar? (A person he mentioned was involved with the drug trade and was close to the BJP)
A: Dodges the question
Q: Who is Roy Fernandes?
A: I will disclose at the right time.
Q: When did drug lord David Driham alias Dudu’s kin Ayala and Zarina (Drug lord Dudu’s sister and girlfriend) hand over the sting tapes to you showing police sub-inspector Sunil Gudlar negotiating over sale of drugs? (He was asked this question at least 10 times by this reporter)
A: After dodging the question for a while, he replied, ‘Who are they? I never heard their names. Never met them! I have no tapes with me.’
Q: Which is the international media agency which reportedly had a contract with Zarina and Ayala to do a sting operation on the cops?
A: CBI will probe into this angle.
Q: Why is Gudlar not arrested?
A: Investigation is on. I will ask Director General of Police Bhim Sain Bassi to personally monitor the case being probed by Special Investigation Team.
Q: Why has no First Information Report been registered in the Cipriano Fernandes custodial death even after the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) has confirmed that it was death in custody?
A: Dodged.
Q: Why have arrests not been made in the case?
A: Three policemen are suspended. Their arrests will be decided after DySP Bossuet D’Silva and SDM Shabaji Shetye submit their respective reports.
