PANAJI
The Goa government has appointed Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta, IPS, to conduct a departmental inquiry into alleged police lapses in providing security during the demolition of alleged illegal structures at Morjim. The inquiry will also examine shortcomings in the investigation into the assault on advocate Ankur Kumar and his client.
The development was informed to the Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Hiten Venegavkar on Wednesday during hearing of the suo motu case over the assault during the demolition drive last week. The State told the HC that key documents, including the dispatch diary from the office of the SDPO, Pernem, had been seized for the inquiry.
Meanwhile, the demolition drive continued on Wednesday, with some structures removed by authorities and others voluntarily cleared by owners. The government said the exercise would continue over the coming days. The Bench observed that since government machinery was involved in the demolition, those responsible for the illegal structures should bear the cost. The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 29.
The High Court had earlier criticised the investigation, noting that the case diary did not properly record key investigative steps. It ordered an inquiry into alleged lapses, including issues related to case diary entries, evidence collection, handling of the police protection request, and the probe after the transfer of investigation.
