PANAJI: In a dramatic twist of events, the Assagao house demolition saga has taken a sharp turn towards the top echelons of the Goa Police. Allegations of collusion have been levelled against Director General of Police (DGP) Jaspal Singh by his own officer, indicating that DGP conspired with accused Pooja Sharma to ensure the structure’s demolition last week.
PI Prashal Desai, who along with two PSIs Nitin Naik and Sanket Pokhare faced suspension, has revealed explosive details. In the inquiry by Chief Secretary Puneet Goel, Desai testified about the immense pressure and threats from DGP Singh to manipulate the case in favour of Sharma.
DGP Singh allegedly directed Desai to obtain documents from Agarwadekar family over their ownership claims and dismissed her complaint, claiming that Sharma owned the property.
“He (DGP) informed me that Pooja Sharma is the owner of the said property and no cognizable offence is made out into the complaint of Prinsha Agarwadekar and hence no need to take action into her complaint,” reads an extract of the inquiry report, quoting the now suspended PI Desai.
On the day the demolition commenced, Desai claimed he received a call from DGP instructing him to assist Sharma’s party. However, Desai halted the demolition until resolving the dispute at the police station, which reportedly angered Singh, who then threatened to falsely implicate Desai in drug-related cases.
“He (Singh) threatened me saying that, if he is also transferred from Goa whenever he is posted, he will book A case under the NDPS Act and he will falsely record the statement of that accused that he is doing drug trade in connivance with Pl Anjuna Police Station and will frame me in the said case,” the PI said, adding,
“… I received a phone call from DGP Goa asking me why the work of the demolition of the house has been stopped. Accordingly, I briefed him about the call received from PCR Panaji and also about the occupants of the house who were aggressively opposing the demolition work of the house. At that time DGP Goa started shouting at me and told me that anyhow the work of the demolition of the house should be started…”
Desai also claimed that the DGP pressured them to take the occupants of the house to the police station in order to continue the demolition. One of the main conspirators, Arshad Khawaja, from Vasco – now in police custody, also threw his weight around claiming he received orders from “top officers.”
“DGP was continuously pressuring me to allow Arshad Khawaja to continue demolishing work of the house. He also threatened me to start the work within 10 minutes,” Desai alleged.
