SEAN ACCUSES COLVA POLICE OF THEFT:HIGHER RANKED OFFICERS DENY AS USUAL

MARGAO: The Colva police have come in the eye of a storm after one Sean Demont complained to the police higher ups that policemen attached to the station were allegedly involved in theft of cash and other items from his car.

Senior police officers, however, said the complaint appears to be factually incorrect, but directed Colva police station incharge, PI Tushar Vernekar to conduct a detailed probe into the episode.

To those who came in late: It is a tradition or custom of the Goa Police personnel to lift off things found in raids, arrests and even after arrest taken off the body of the arrested etc without showing them on the panchanama. When Matka bookies are raided the bigger sum of money is pocketed by the police personnel. It is not only the constables but even the ranks of PSI’s do that. These are some of the eye seen procedures of the Goa Police.

In his complaint, Demont alleged that policemen attached to Colva police station lifted Rs 4.22 lakh, besides 2000 US dollars, 3000 pounds and a camera worth Rs 50,000 from his car parked outside his residence at Benaulim.

He claimed that he returned to his place of residence at Lotus Hermitage after his vehicle met with an accident at 11 pm on the road to Benaulim beach. “Within 15 minutes, five policemen came and took me to the station before referring me to Hospicio for a medical examination”, he said.

Incidentally, Demont says that when he was being taken from his residence to the Hospital, two policemen, who were standing near his car, took the vehicle key from him and sat inside.

Claiming that money stacked in the car was taken by the police without issuing any receipt, Demont has asked Superintendent of Police, South to return his money immediately.  Demont’s lawyer, Adv Bairon Rodrigues said the money was seized by the police without conducting any panchanama and demanded that the cash and other items be returned to his client.

When contacted, DySP Umesh Gaonkar said the vehicle was involved in an accident causing grievous injuries to two persons, who are convalescing in hospital. “Preliminary inquiry revealed the police had gone to Demont’s residence since there was an accident complaint against him. The complaint filed by him does not appear to be genuine. It needs to be verified in detail”, DySP Gaonkar said, adding that PI Tushar Vernekar has been instructed to conduct a detailed probe.