PANAJI
The lady constable -- formerly attached to Bicholim police station -- has landed in serious trouble as a detailed inquiry against her revealed that she allegedly misappropriated Rs 17.30 lakh collected from traffic violation fines over the last 11 months.
But while the report has indicted her of the alleged offense, the lady police constable appears to have escaped stringent action, quietly returning a major portion of the defrauded amount to the department on Tuesday.
With Chief Minister Pramod Sawant personally monitoring the case, sources revealed that she was summoned to police headquarters on Tuesday, where she handed over the sum to her senior officers.
However, she faces no further action as she remains at her present place of posting at Colvale Escort Cell.
“She has returned a major part of the defrauded amount. She was questioned by higher-ups but was let off thereafter. Disciplinary action against her is awaited,” sources told The Goan.
The Goan's report on Tuesday revealed the audit exposing the brazen discrepancy, as the whopping amount collected through various violations under the Motor Vehicles Act disappeared from the Bicholim police station.
The mismatch between official bank deposit receipts and internal traffic police records prompted Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Prabodh Shirvaikar to alert SP North Akshat Kaushal. A preliminary probe by the Bicholim Police Inspector allegedly confirmed the misappropriation, prompting a detailed inquiry by the SDPO.
The fresh report has now revealed that she allegedly siphoned Rs 17.30 lakh from traffic fines at the Bicholim police station between February and December 2024.
It is also learnt that SP North directed all police stations in the district to furnish details of fine collections from various motor vehicle violations by Tuesday evening.
Goa police have decided to shift to cashless challan payments for traffic fines starting the new financial year.
In December 2024, Assistant Sub-Inspector Mohan Chopdekar and Constables Govind Mandrekar and Prashant Shetye from the Anjuna Traffic Cell were suspended for allegedly extorting bribes from tourists.
Thereafter, ASI Rajan Mhamal and Head Constables Sanjay Gawde, Rupesh Raut and Vishram Malik of Anjuna Traffic Cell were directed to report to the Goa Reserve Police (GRP) Wireless Division, for ‘performing their duty’ as they caught a group of tourists on rental bikes violating traffic rules.
