PANAJI: Stating that the allegation against the second in command police officer are of serious nature, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, on Thursday evening, said that he would take a decision after looking into the complaint.
Parsekar was responding to bribe-related charge made against Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sunil Garg by a businessman.
Speaking to reporters after conclusion of the day’s assembly proceedings, the Chief Minister said, “Allegation is of serious nature. This is for the first time, I am hearing. I have not received any complaint, not even over phone as I was busy with the assembly.”
When asked if the officer would be placed under suspension, he said, “I am not an expert on the subject. After going into the merits of the case, I will take a decision. Generally, whenever I come across such things police help me. When the allegation is against police, I will have to consult some other officers.”
Earlier in the day, a Vasco-based businessman Munnalal Halwai accused Garg of demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 5.5 lakhs in order to register a FIR against a Ponda-based advocate.
Halwai claimed that “a complaint in this regard has been made to the Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Directorate of vigilance.”
He said that he has also approached a court seeking direction for registering a FIR against Garg under the relevant provision of the prevention to corruption Act and to conduct investigation though the CBI.”
He said that a Ponda-based advocate in connivance with a petrol pump dealer, also based in Ponda, has cheated him to the tune of Rs 1.15 crore.
“The complaint was not being registered by the Ponda police as such he had approached Garg seeking necessary action. But Garg asked for a bribe in order to register the FIR,” claimed Halwai, adding that he has audio recording of the last meeting with Garg wherein he paid Rs 50,000 in cash while Rs 5 lakh was paid through his friend.
The bribe money was paid to Garg in September last year, he informed.
Meanwhile, Garg has denied the allegation.
He said so many people come to him in connection with various issues and that he doesn’t remember Halwai. He said that the allegation of taking bribe is baseless.