PANAJI
Director General of Police Alok Kumar hassought a report from the Special Branch (CB) on an inquiry into allegations thatone of its personnel at its Panaji unit demanded Rs 2,000 bribe from a citizenseeking passport verification.
The direction came a day after the CBinitiated an inquiry into a complaint. Following The Goan’s report on Tuesday,the Superintendent of Police (SP-SB) asked the inquiry officer to expedite theprobe and complete it at the earliest. The DGP has now directed the unit tosubmit its findings to determine further action.
“The inquiry report will be submitted to theDGP and SP, SB for further action,” sources said.
The allegations have also prompted thedepartment to consider reviewing the postings of some personnel, sources said,adding that it could cover those who have not complied with transfer orders andcontinued at their existing postings, as well as those who have remained in thesame unit for several years without receiving formal transfer orders.
The latest complaint concerns a citizen whoapproached the SB, Panaji, to inform the police that he would be temporarilyunavailable at the permanent residential address mentioned in his passportapplication. As per a social media post, a police personnel allegedly told himthat the verification would not pose a problem if he paid Rs 2,000.
The X user, who posted the allegation, hadtagged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Goa Police, questioning why citizensseeking routine passport clearances should have to pay bribes.
The complaint comes two months after a headconstable and a constable allegedly demanded Rs 10,000 from another person inconnection with passport verification. It prompted a separate inquiry.
