Margao PI under scanner in run-up to panchayat polls

Adv Aires Rodrigues has drawn the attention of the State Election Commission that he has been informed that many of Police Inspector Filomeno Costa’s close relatives are contesting these elections from Davorlim and also from Navelim Panchayat which is too within the jurisdiction of Margao Police Station. He has submitted a written representation to the Goa State Election Commissioner (SEC) that Margao Police Inspector Filomeno Costa may be in conflict of interest during the ensuing Panchayat elections scheduled for August 10.

In his representation, Adv Rodrigues has stated that he was constrained to seek the intervention of the SEC despite Police Inspector Filomeno Costa being known as a very upright officer.

Sources in the know pointed out that it’s a fact that PI Costa hails from Davorlim and a couple of close relatives of the Police officer are bracing up to contest the ensuing polls. However, Davorlim village does not come under the jurisdiction of the Margao Police station, but the neighbouring police station of Maina Curtorim.

Sources, however, said that PI Costa’s relatives hailing from Navelim had in the past contested the polls for the village panchayat, which comes under the jurisdiction of Margao police station.

In fact, one of his close relatives had risen to become the deputy sarpanch of Navelim Panchayat.

Even as Adv Rodrigues has further submitted that to avoid any conflict of interest and to also ensure that these elections are free and fair, it would be inappropriate that Police Inspector Filomeno Costa continues heading the Margao Police station during these elections, sources wondered whether PI would be shunted out from Margao police station and whether he would return to Margao after the polls in the event of his transfer.

Posted at the Margao police station just a fortnight ago, PI Costa was in the news last week after the Margao police arrested all the accused involved in the Azad Nagar murder case.