FIR against Goa IGP only after vigilance probe: CM

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Tuesday said that a First Information Report (FIR) against Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg in a bribery case would be filed only based on the outcome of the ongoing vigilance probe by the state Chief Secretary.

"Chief Secretary is the Chief Vigilance officer. With that view, I have entrusted him with the probe," Parsekar told reporters after a meeting of the state cabinet.

Two weeks back, a local businessman accused Garg of allegedly demanding and accepting Rs 5.5 lakh in bribes for registering an FIR in a cheating case.

Munnalal Halwai, who runs a business establishment in the port town of Vasco, 35 km from Panaji, said he had paid the bribe to Garg in two instalments in 2015, including once in the senior police official's cabin at the police headquarters in Panaji.

The probe into the allegations, as well as a CD containing the alleged audio of Garg acknowledging the transaction, released by Halwai, was later announced by Parsekar.

When asked if Garg should be suspended or at least removed from the Anti-Corruption Bureau charge, during the duration of the probe, Parsekar was evasive. "Why are you pressing me for a remark? Let the probe get completed," the Chief Minister said.

--IANS

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