PANAJI
Goa Police’s fresh encounter with the extortion charge has kicked up a row, embarrassing the elite force that boasts of Zero Tolerance for Corruption and Crime. The police system is allegedly ridden with corruption existing in one form or the other, but the irony is that the issue is seldom seized with seriousness.
The Goan, through this article, attempts to bring forth the types of police corruption and the department’s approach to addressing the deep-rooted menace.
The current fiasco over the extortion charge against its specialized unit “ Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) has exposed the shady underbelly. With the matter spilling out into the public domain, the scramble for damage control has become evident.
The suspected ‘extortionist’ cops have gone scot-free so far with no suspension or First Information Report (FIR) against them despite video evidence, and Director General of Police Jaspal Singh’s statement dismissing any inquiry in the absence of a complaint has raised many eyebrows.
The role of two Superintendents of Police, one of whom is an IPS officer, has come under the government’s scanner, however, the reluctance in proceeding with action has only boosted their confidence. Senior officers in the Goa Police and the bureaucratic circle have confided in The Goan about malpractices and assets owned by some officers, one of whom became a proud owner of a plush abode in South Goa shortly after his ‘holiday’ posting in Goa.
Sources said the officer refused a prime posting because he wanted to personally supervise the construction and finalize interiors and furnishings. “We are trying to get expenditure details from the Public Works Department. Obtaining RTI information will clear doubts if it is being built at the cost of the public exchequer. We are also told that most of the furniture and other decor are imported. The entire cost will be sought through RTI,” one of the activists said.
Whereas another SP is involved in multiple irregularities and allegedly shielded.
Way back in 2014, the Panaji town police registered cases against 500 persons for illegally having dual citizenship including the SP, based on complaints of activist Kashinath Shetye. The case lies in cold storage.
Having managed to get his poor performance reports expunged by two former Governors, the same officer is currently reaping the benefits of being in the top position. A high-level inquiry into his unauthorized overseas trip is also a long-forgotten matter. The then Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma who tightened the noose around this GPS-cadre officer had contacted Immigration to obtain the latter’s travel history after he reported his ‘missing passport’ on the very day of the inquiry. Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airlines furnished all the required data but it was too late as the Chief Secretary was transferred. The police officer had a lucky escape, albeit sources said the inquiry is not closed.
