MONDAY, JULY 01, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa woke up following a report in ToI stating that the suspended Anjuna Police Inspector (PI) Prashal Dessai had sent a “factual report” to the Chief Secretary about the Assagao house demolition containing serious allegations against Director General of Police (DGP) Jaspal Singh.
There was a big furore in the political and social circles in the State.The report alleged that DGP Jaspal Singh 'pressurised' Anjuna Police Station officers to allow the razing of the house.
However, Goa Police PRO Rahul Gupta, who also happens to be the SP (Crime Branch) stated that the report was not verified and there was no evidence of its authenticity.
However, both local and other officers have strongly indicated the presence of this report with Chief Secretary.
The purported copies of the report of the Anjuna PI then started circulating widely in social media and Whatsapp groups, with the same content and those published in the newspaper.
In the newspaper report which mentioned the purported PI Anjuna's 31 para note to the Chief Secretary, then paragraphs pertaining to the alleged involvement of the DGP in ensuring the demolition and "helping" Pooja Sharma went viral.
DGP Jaspal Singh has strongly denied any involvement with Pooja Sharma or his connection with the Assagao demolition case. (See box)
Readers are advised to use their own discretion on these points
a) PI Prashal Dessai along with SDPO Mapusa Sandesh Chodankar had attended the meeting with DGP Goa, who had discussed regarding purchase of the said property by Pooja Sharma and directed them to help her in vacating the said house.
The "factual" report of PI Desai on which the newspaper report was published states:
b) On June 22, 2024, PI Dessai received a phone call from DGP Goa informing that the party of Pooja Sharma will come at Assagao and told to help them.
June 22 PI Desai received a phone call from DGP Goa asking him why the work of the demolition of the house has been stopped.
c) PI Dessai again received a phone call from DGP Goa stating that anyhow the work of the demolition of the house must take place and told him that they will again start the work of the demolition and no one should stop the said work"or face consequences"
e) On June 24, 2024, the DGP Goa had directed PI Anjuna come at this office where the DGP "shouted" at him “He (DGP) also threatened me saying that, if he is also transferred from Goa, whenever he will be posted, he will book case under NDPS Act and he will falsely record statement of that accused that he is doing drug trade in connivance with PI Anjuna Police Station and will frame me in the said case.”
f) Prinsha Pradeep Agarwadekar also lodged her complaint against Pooja Sharma and unknown persons for abducting her husband and son and causing damage to her house situated at Assagao. The said complaint was discussed with DGP Goa wherein he directed to obtain documents from Prinsha Agarwadekar.
The DGP also informed him that Pooja Sharma is the owner of the said property and no cognisable offence is made out into the complaint of Prinsha Agarwadekar and hence no need to take action into her complaint.
