PANAJI
Goa Police conceded the challenge to re-arrest absconding land fraudster Siddiqui alias Suleman Khan, known for his chameleon-like traits to evade arrest.
IRB constable Amit Naik who facilitated his escape from SIT custody on Friday, has been dismissed from service.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Varsha Sharma confirmed the disciplinary action, stating it followed a preliminary inquiry as well as a report by the SP Crime Rahul Gupta.
“Naik has been dismissed from service in adherence to all the rules,” she said speaking to The Goan.
Police sources meanwhile added that the dismissal was in line with the CCS Rules, which allows the parent department to dismiss its employee/s found to be directly implicated in a criminal case.
“This offence clearly showed that Naik escorted the accused out of the lock-up, that too, while he was on guard duty. In such cases, there is no escape route (suspension) for such employees,” the source said.
The constable’s actions overshadowed the Goa Police's efforts, which had only a month back succeeded in arresting Suleman after a gruelling three-month operation in Karnataka. The 55-year-old, wanted for forging property documents, had evaded arrest for over four and half years by frequently changing his appearance, vehicles, SIM cards and locations.
DIG Sharma conceded challenges owing to Suleman’s tactics while quickly assuring intensified efforts to re-arrest him. “We are fully aware of his modus operandi and are working hard on his arrest,” she said.
Gupta had described Suleman as a “hardened criminal” who switched between cities in Karnataka to avoid detection. “We pieced together every clue over months to finally arrest him,” he said after Suleman's arrest by SIT (Land Grab) on Nov 14. Suleman's alleged illegal properties were also demolished by the Mapusa municipality recently.
