Five Goa cops suspended for allowing undertrials to drink

"All the five constables, attached to Escorts Cell, have been suspended from their duty pending inquiry (against them)," SP (Escort Cell) Shekhar Prabhudesai told PTI.

The undertrials were found to be in inebriated condition when they returned to Vasco sub-jail, where they are lodged, after attending trial at Margaon district court on Saturday, he said, adding medical test confirmed presence of alcohol in their blood.

Though it was widely suspected that the policemen escorting the trio might have also consumed alcohol, the jail authorities did not recommend any medical test for them.

In their statement before investigators, the constables had claimed that "A relative of one of the undertrials offered us water in a bottle, which was laced with alcohol".

However, police are not buying their argument.

"We are investigating the case. We will not go by the statements of the constables," Prabhudesai said.

According to rules, the constables guarding prisoners are not supposed to allow them to eat or drink anything en route to court or even in the court.