MARGAO
The State Police Complaints Authority has disposed of with no recommendation the complaint filed against then police sub inspector Tukaram Chawan of Colva police station by Dhanwanti Fernandes of Varca.
The complaint was filed against then PSI Chawan; Umesh Gaonkar, then sub divisional police officer of Margao, and Allen D’Sa, then superintendent of police of South Goa.
The charges against Gaonkar and D’Sa were dropped by an order in 2011. It is case of the complainant that though a complaint of robbery was registered on February 24, 2011, Chawan carried out the investigation thereof by allegedly committing several irregularities and lapses which facilitated the thieves to flee from the state with stolen property.
Gold ornaments, diamonds and other articles of jewellery worth around Rs 15 lakh and cash of Rs 40,000 were stolen.
As per the complainant, despite revealing identifies of the suspects, Chawan had allegedly conducted the investigation in a lackadaisical manner in the case. The complainant had prayed for suitable action against Chawan.
After going through records and hearing the arguments placed before the State Police Complaints Authority, order was passed which states that “in the circumstances considering the material placed on records we find that respondent PSI Chawan did not conduct the investigation negligently or half-heartedly and on contrary on completion of investigation he had filed the charge-sheet against the accused before JMFC Margao.”
The order says that PSI Chawan had made efforts to trace another accused A Kumar and issued a lookout notice against him.
PSI Chawan had filed absconding charge-sheet in July 2011 before JMFC Margao and, therefore, it is evident that PSI Chawan had conducted himself in accordance with law and taken necessary steps right from the date of theft and recording of complaint of the complainant, the order says.
Further it states that “in view of above we do not find any laxity or irregularity on the part of PSI Chawan in the matter of investigation carried out. There is nothing on record to establish that the complainant has suffered harassment on account of the alleged acts of PSI Chawan in the matter of investigation of the case of robbery and subsequent recovery of stolen property.”