Suspended Goa police officer politically victimised

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Suspended Goa police officer politically victimised

From Devika Sequeira DH News Service PANAJI, Nov 19

A senior police official, who has been suspended by the Goa government on 
charges of misconduct, appears to have become the scapegoat in a cover-up 
to shield a politically connected businessman here.

Deputy superintendent of police, Shirish Thorat, was on Monday suspended 
after a state home department inquiry concluded that he had slapped a hotel 
owner in the course of an investigation.

Intriguingly, no complaint has been registered with the police against the 
DySP for his alleged 'misconduct'.

The inquiry against Mr Thorat has been conducted purely on a verbal 
complaint made to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

The complainant, according to the inquiry report, is Mr Gaurish Lawande. Mr 
Lawande, who runs Hotel La Capitol, located in the heart of Panjim, is 
related to the wife of State Power Minister, Digamber Kamat (BJP).

According to police sources, Mr Thorat is being grossly victimised by the 
BJP-RSS political lobby in Goa for attempting to register a case against Mr 
Lawande for illegally confining a 17-year-old from Calcutta to a room in 
his hotel for over a month.

Mr Thorat chanced upon the girl while conducting a search for a murder 
accused suspected to have been hiding in the hotel with a dance girl.

The deputy superintendent told the hearing that after the hotel owner was 
brought to the police headquarters, he received a phone call from the Power 
Minister warning him against registering a case against Mr Lawande.

Police sources say pressure was also brought upon Mr Thorat by higher-ups 
in the police department  to lay off the case because of its political 
implications.

A frustrated Mr Thorat is believed to have given Mr Lawande a dressing down.

So while Mr Thorat becomes possibly the first DySP in this country to be 
suspended for slapping someone, justice has eluded the 17-year-old, whose 
complaint the government has conveniently trashed.

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What's On In Goa (WOIG): 
Nov 06 Children's book exhibn opens, Walkabout, Anjuna... (all weekdays)
Nov 06 ArtHouse, Calangute: Chaitali's acrylics on canvas till 19.11
Nov 07 Revision of electoral rolls (till Nov 30) See schedule.
Dec 01 Two day conference, Goa Agenda. IT For Society. (Ends 2.12) 
Every Sunday: Music therapy sessions at Moira, 5 pm. 278, N.Portugal

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