Parrikar's flip flop on involvement in police decisions

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Wednesday said it was he who gave clearance for the arrest of Maharashtra minister Narayan Rane's son Nitesh for vandalising a toll booth. Parrikar had earlier said he does not meddle in policing.

"You think police before arresting Narayan Rane's son will not take clearance from me? Of course, they took a briefing (with me)," Parrikar told a press conference.

"If the home minister will not be briefed, then who will be briefed. I told them to go ahead and take action according to law," said Parrikar who also holds the home ministry portfolio.

Only a few days back, when asked to respond to allegations made by Tehelha editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal about political interference in policing, Parrikar had said he does not meddle in police decisions.

Parrikar also rejected a charge made by a section of the media that Nitesh was let off lightly by Goa Police, despite his entourage's act of smashing a toll booth at the Goa-Maharashtra border and assaulting three toll operators.

Nitesh was released on conditional bail early Wednesday.

Parrikar and the BJP have been accused by Tejpal of taking personal interest and manipulating police investigation against the editor, accused of sexually assaulting a now former junior colleague twice in a Goa resort.

On Nilesh Rane's hooliganism at the toll booth, Parrikar said it only reflects on the junior Rane's "cultural background" and "political immaturity".

"What he did was right according to his culture. Everyone has a cultural background," Parrikar said.