Goa DGP assures fair probe in anti-Modi FB post case

Goa Director General of Police T Mohan today assured a fair trial in the case filed against a 33-year-old engineer, who allegedly posted comments on Facebook against Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi.
Mohan told a delegation of activists here that complete fairness would be observed while probing the case against Devu Chodankar, who made some anti-Modi remarks on the social networking site on March 23 when the Lok Sabha was on.
However, the comments were deleted later.
Goa based businessman Atul Pai Kane had lodged a complaint recently with the cyber crime cell against Chodankar.
The cell had moved the court here seeking custodial interrogation of accused Lavu Chodankar claiming that his FB post was a larger gameplan to "promote communal and social disharmony" in the state. Subsequently, his anticipatory bail was rejected by a local court.

Dr Samir Kelekar, an activist who headed the delegation told PTI that "the DGP was very sympathetic towards our views. He has assured fair trial."

Kelekar, also a cyber crime expert said that the DGP was informed about the 'unfair probe' conducted by cyber crime cell of Goa police.
The activist said that Chodankar's father had submitted in writing before the police that he would require 15 days to appear as he was out of station on official trip.
"Police issued two summons immediately even after they were informed that Chodankar is out of station and would make himself available before the investigating officer," Kelekar said.

On Saturday, political parties and social activists protested police action against Chodankar outside the Goa Police Headquarters following which Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that the government was not involved in the matter in any manner and the investigating officer is empowered to take the case forward as per law.
Chodankar's lawyer Jatin Naik had also said that his client has already moved Bombay High Court bench in Goa for anticipatory bail and the case would be heard on Tuesday.