PANJIM: Head Constable Sanjay Talkar, of the Tiracol Coastal Police Station, an accused in the alleged bribery and extortion was remanded to five days in police custody.
SP Nelson Albuquerque said investigations were in progress and the police custody of the accused was required as there is a chain of other police personnel linked to it which figure in the complaint.
After being denied anticipatory bail by the North Goa Sessions Court on Friday, Talkar was later arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in connection with the alleged extortion of Rs 8,000 from Pruthvi H N, an adventure sports operator from Arambol, Pernem.
While dismissing the anticipatory bail application, the Sessions Judge Sherin Paul observed, “There is prima facie evidence against the applicant and his involvement in the offence of demand for money will have a very negative impact on society more so, as the acts of the applicant was a threat to the right of the complainant to earn a living by doing a business which the case papers indicate was a legal business.”
It may be recalled that O Heraldo on its Sunday edition (April 7) had highlighted the story of cops demanding the pound of flesh to let Pruthvi H N to carry on with his trade since December 2023. Pruthvi operates a paraglider-low panorama adventure sports activity at Keri-Pernem.
The head constable approached Pruthvi and allegedly told him that his business activity was illegal and that he was directed by his boss at the Tiracol Coastal Police Station to seize his glider. The station dairy stands manipulated while no standard operating procedure was followed while attaching the Muddemal, said a police officer.
Meanwhile, sources said there was tension at the Tiracol coastal police station with many players in the extortion and bribery racket whose names have allegedly figured in the complaint have been running from pillar to post to various politicians trying to seek protection. Names of another head constable and two other senior police officers figure in the ‘scroll of dishonour’ mentioned by the complainant.
