Goa Police shamed by chief minister Pramod Sawant -- By Nisser Dias

The ‘import’ from Kolhapur who was sworn in as the chief minister of Goa, as a part of late Manohar Parrikar’s legacy, has proved once again that he is inefficient and incompetent. By handing over the late Sonali Phogat murder case to the CBI, the spineless Pramod Sawant, to camouflage his ineptness and functioning has in fact ridiculed the Goa police in the eyes of the public. The non-Goan chief minister of Goa Pramod Sawant has indeed endorsed the impromptu nickname ‘Pappu’ meaning a puppet in the hands of the powers that be in Delhi. Till recently Sawant is on record saying that Goa police were doing a good job in investigating the murder of Sonali Phogat. Like his U-turn predecessor, he changed colours. What changed overnight for CM to hand over the case to the CBI? Was it Haryana Khap panchayat pressure? Or the pressure from the daughter of the victim? Or is it the order from the Home ministry? Or has he suddenly realized his police officers are not up to the mark to investigate such a high-profile case? High profile as she was, being a member of the BJP. Or is it because the chief minister who also holds the Home portfolio is a failure in its entirety? What was the reason to hand over the case to CBI? Goa police had the main ingredients in any investigation. The victim was identified, the accused were arrested and the cause of death was determined. What the Goa police had to do was just connect the dots to present a solid, watertight case. Police had to just investigate whether the drugs were bought at Curlies, or if the accused and the victim had carried them from Haryana. Whether the victim was a willing partner or a habitual user? The motive for her personal assistant to drug her and whether the accused would be the beneficiaries of the victim’s assets? As simple. What more will the CBI do? In January 2013 with the late Manohar Parrikar as chief minister, a 7-year-old girl was raped in the school toilet during regular hours. As the police could not get a breakthrough, Goans demanded that the case be handed over to CBI. Nine months later in September of that year when the trail of the accused had gone cold, Parrikar acceded to the demand and the CBI took over the case. Probably late Parrikar’s delayed the case being handed over to CBI was because he was the person to close down the CBI office in Goa. In 2017 four years later CBI filed a closure report in court which the victim’s father challenged. Then CBI changed tracks and said that they have identified the suspect as a native of West Bengal but are yet to nab him. Let me highlight another case CBI bungled and the accused in the murder was acquitted. In 2010 Dr. Vijayraj Dessai was accused of the murder of his wife. The case was handed over to CBI. Four years later they filed a charge sheet.

GOA POLICE HEAD QUARTERS

After four years of trial, the accused who did not engage a lawyer, argued the matter himself against the CBI lawyer and was acquitted. This is an indication that CBI also does not have a 100 per cent conviction rate. In 2015 Goans demanded a CBI investigation into the mysterious death of Fr. Bismarque Dias a green activist, In 2020 RTI activist Vilas Methar was waylaid and set on fire and died of burn injuries. In 2021 19 years old Siddhi Naik was found washed ashore at Calangute beach. Again, Goans demanded a CBI probe. None were accepted by the government. But in Sonali Phogat’s case, the Goa government run by the most useless BJP chief minister Sawant accedes to the demands of Haryana Khap panchayat and the daughter of the victim for the CBI investigation. The citizens have the right to know the criteria adopted by the government to hand over cases to CBI. With all the resources available to them the CBI does not have an outstanding record of convictions. Goa police with plenty of limitations is much better than the premier investigating agency.

Politicians, police and drug lords are all in the same game in Goa - By Nisser Dias

GOA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

The slugfest between Goa and its counterparts in Hyderabad over non-cooperation and denial allegations in the investigation into the death of BJP leader Sonali Phogat case has exposed the defunct BJP government headed by ‘Outsider’ chief minister Pramod Sawant and his caged police force. Moreover, it has exposed the incapabilities, failures and inefficiency of Sawant who holds the Home portfolio. The Kolhapur ‘import’ should pack his bags and permanently leave Goa for his ‘Ganv’. The chief minister termed Phogat’s death as cardiac arrest. In stark contrast, the autopsy revealed that she died of an overdose of drugs combined with blunt force trauma. Pramod Sawant does not only expose himself as a clown but makes the police personnel look like a bunch of fools. BJP leader who is alleged to have overdosed on drugs is a grim reminder to the powers that be that narcotics and psychotropic substances are abundantly and freely available in this part of the paradise because of the patronage and tutelage of the police and the politicians. It has always been an open secret that politicians, police and drug kingpins and peddlers have woven a strong network and beneficiaries of the blood money or drug business. Have we forgotten that cabinet minister Ravi Naik’s son was probed for alleged drug links and was supposedly the kingpin along the north Goa coastal belt? Police officer Sunil Gudlar was arrested in 2011 upon the evidence of video recording selling narcotics to two foreign nationals. He was also linked to missing drugs from the police godown, supposedly consumed by rodents according to the police version without realizing that two-legged rodents are also part of Goa’s police force. Ruling politicians have always been in denial that drugs are freely available along the coastal belt of north Goa, not that it is not available in south Goa but to a much lesser level. After fatal incidents like Phogat, Scarlett and others, the government and the police get into the mode of public eye wash. They carry out raids and arrest the small fry. But after a fortnight it is business as usual.

GOA POLICE HEADQUARTERS

Be that as it may, that our police force lacks investigative skills is widely known. There is a concept known as circumstantial proof and direct evidence in any investigation. Goa police fail to understand this aspect and the result is a high percentage of acquittals in narcotic cases. Goa police investigation is to first arrest the suspects and gather all the evidence with their help. When a person or persons are arrested, the charge sheet has to be filed in the court of law within 90 days or the law allows default bail for suspects. Investigations can go for much longer period. Unfortunately, for the investigating agencies, their burden is to file a charge-sheet when the burden on them should be to seek a conviction. The police have to change their mode of investigation and arrest the person only after gathering circumstantial and direct evidence. The police are simply incapable of such investigations. In Sonali Phogat’s case, Inspector General of police (IGP) Omvir Singh is on record saying that the latter was forced to drink an obnoxious substance. This premise sounds hollow simply because it is very difficult to force any liquid into a person’s mouth without consent. The jaw has such strong muscles that it is impossible to pry it open unless the victim is either held captive and being tortured to drink or intoxicated or is a willing partner in the act. Late Sonali was at a social place hence ‘forcing her to drink’ obnoxious substance flies out of the window. She either had knowledge of what she was drinking or had complete trust in the person putting the bottle to her mouth.

NISSER DIAS

Police will have to coin a better phrase than ‘forced to drink’ otherwise they will play into the hands of defence lawyers. Interestingly BJP dictates what citizens should eat, drink or consume, say and wear, and the time when we go out or stay home. However, it seems the executive orders are for the general public and not for the members of the BJP party. Similarly if the ‘bhailo’ chief minister of Goa Pramod Sawant cannot protect the lives of his own BJP party colleague as Home minister, how can he possibly protect us? Resign, Pramod Sawant, resign. You are an utter misfit and a complete failure.