PANAJI
Former Bardez Mamlatdar Rahul Desai, who was charged with alleged involvement in a massive land grab, is among ten gazetted officers reinstated over the past five years after being suspended for various offenses, including corruption, misconduct, and other departmental violations.
In a written reply to an unstarred Legislative Assembly question tabled by Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant revealed that officers from departments such as Public Works, Revenue, Registration and Personnel among others, were reinstated either after a major penalty was imposed or due to prolonged inquiries that made continued suspension financially burdensome. Some suspensions were also lifted as the charges were found to be baseless.
In Desai’s case, his 2024 suspension was initially extended by 90 days, but the government later observed that the "mere extension of suspension period" was counterproductive. “...moreover, it tends to burden the exchequer as the delinquent officer is required to be paid allowance without any output,” the CM, who also holds the Vigilance portfolio, noted.
“Suspension is basically to keep away the delinquent officer from influencing the fair process of enquiry. In view of the above aspect, the delinquent officer can be reinstated in service, but the opinion/ recommendation of the chairman of the commission of enquiry be observed in totality. This action will have no bearing on pending inquiry/investigation,” Sawant’s noting, also tabled in the assembly, added.
While reinstated, most of the officers have not been assigned main postings. One officer also retired in April this year.
Meanwhile, data furnished in the same reply indicates that only one bribery case was registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Vigilance Department over the last five years, from July 1, 2020, to July 14, 2025.
The case involves Police Inspector Sunil Gudlar and Police Constable Mohammad Hussen Harihar, who, while attached to the Konkan Railway Police Station in Margao, were caught allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a Belgaum-based trader in exchange for dropping a criminal case related to the seizure of bovine meat. They also demanded a monthly payment of Rs 25,000 to let the trader operate without interference. Both officers are currently under suspension, and the investigation is ongoing.
