The BJP in Goa seems to be dangling all over the vacant cabinet berth created by the now jailed Mickky Pacheco. After having initially lured it to Babush Monseratte and promised it to Vishnu Wagh too, while Nilesh Cabral and Pramod Sawant wait in the wings also, it is now reported that Deputy Speaker Anant Shet may come from behind and walk away with the cake. If it happens another tainted would join the Laxmikant Parsekar led already awfully soiled cabinet.
The high handed political move by the Old Goa Police in closing the criminal case that was registered in 2012 against now Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Anant Shet needs to be legally challenged in public interest. A First Information Report bearing No 29/12 was registered on 3rd March 2012 at the Old Goa Police Station against Anant Shet after he was caught red handed at the Chorao ferry with cash amounting to Rs 3,47,500 in his vehicle to allegedly bribe voters while on the campaign trail at the 2012 Assembly elections. The F.I.R registered against Anant Shet was under Sections 171 (E), 511,188 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. Instead of upholding the law and charge sheeting Anant Shet, the police bowing to the political diktats have closed an open-and- shut case where Anant Shet was caught red handed with the money. The police have grossly abdicated in their duty by lacking the spine to charge sheet the Deputy Speaker. The closure of the case is malafied, outrageous and a mockery of the law. The police after having shelved the investigation for two long years tactfully moved to close the case. The police are duty bound to act in accordance with law in each and every case. Anant Shet cannot be shielded just because he is a well connected ruling party politician. The police cannot pick and choose while investigating cases. They should in the investigation of every case, demonstrate the zeal and enthusiasm they extraordinarily exhibited in the infamous Tarun Tejpal case. There is rightly a public perception that the police in Goa are sadly acting as caged parrots and taking no action against crimes committed by those linked to the BJP. As nobody is above the law, Justice demands that Deputy Speaker Anant Shet be charge sheeted and made to face trial in the criminal case involving serious charges of allegedly bribing voters. And this Government had vowed that it would be Zero Tolerance against Corruption. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires