PANAJI
In an expected move, Director General of Goa Police Jaspal Singh has been transferred to Delhi just before the monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly. Alok Kumar, his batch-mate of 1996 AGMUT cadre will replace him as Goa’s new police chief.
In the order dated July 12, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) transferred Singh without posting to Delhi while Kumar, currently serving as the IG for CISF is transferred to Goa ‘on repatriation from central deputation.’
The MHA’s order came three days before the assembly session, during which the Opposition legislators are likely to table the controversy surrounding the Assagao house demolition. Singh’s alleged involvement in protecting absconding accused Pooja Sharma is also expected to be raised during the discussion.
Suspended Anjuna Police Inspector Prashal Desai’s statement to Chief Secretary Puneet Goel exposed DGP Singh’s pressure tactics to alter the case in Sharma's favour. Desai accused Singh of repeatedly calling him to “help them (Sharma and company)” and directing the Anjuna police to not stop the demolition.
Desai had further alleged that the outgoing DGP was biased towards the accused claiming that Sharma owned the property and that no cognizable offense was made out in the complaint by Prinsha Agarwadekar. Singh also allegedly threatened to frame Desai in a fake NDPS case, stating that if transferred from Goa, he would book an NDPS case and falsely record statements implicating the PI.
