Questions delay in action against constable who swindled challan money
PANAJI
The Congress on Wednesday slammed the Pramod Sawant government for its record on the law-and-order front and Aldona MLA, Carlos Alvares-Ferreira accused the police department and the government of a cover-up attempt in the case of misappropriation of traffic fines money by a lady constable at the Bicholim police station.
Questioning the delay in taking action against the rogue lady cop, Alvares said, the three-day delay in suspending her clearly points to an attempt at covering up the wrongdoing.
He also alleged that an attempt was made on behalf of the rogue lady constable to pay back the Rs 17-lakh misappropriated amount in hard cash.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in the city, Alvares-Ferreira also questioned the delay by the police department in acting against the constable alleging that she had even been transferred to the escort cell at Colvale. "It has come to light that she hails from Sanquelim. Is she a Queen Bee? Does she have such powerful godfathers?," Alvares asked.
He said, this episode clearly exposes that dishonesty and corruption is rooted in the system and demanded that the government come clean. "Chief Minister (Pramod Sawant) who is also the Home Minister, must disclose the sequence of events and show the files," Alvares-Ferreira said.
The Aldona MLA who is also a former Assistant Solicitor General of India (ASG) and also Advocate General of the State, said that apart from siphoning the money there was also manipulation of the records and questioned why no FIR has been registered as yet.
Referring to the case of police personnel including an officer of DySP rank being suspended for facilitating the smuggling of goods inside the Colvale jail, Alvares said it was shocking.
"So far only the 'small fries' were involved. Now an officer of DySP has been caught," Alvares-Ferreira said and added that he would write to the Governor to use his powers and invoke article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution which permits summary dismissal from service of rogue public servants.
