'Partying Goa police officials' bills paid by a drug dealer'

Atopia Bar used to foot cops party bills

PTI | June 4, 2010



The Goa bench of Bombay High court was informed that policemen of Anti Narcotic Cell and Anjuna police station frequently partied in a local restaurant and their bills were reportedly paid by a drug dealer.

The state police records, which were placed before the court this week, contain statements of one Atiopa Bar and Restaurant's owner.

"Police inspector Ashish Shirodkar and another constable, arrested for nexus with drug peddler, and those from Anjuna police station used to come at Atiopa, have food, and their bills were paid by a boy being sent by arrested Israeli drug dealer Yaniv Benaim alias Atala. The boy worked for a cyber cafe run by Atala," the order states.

Seven policemen, including Shirodkar, were arrested after their nexus with Israeli drug dealers Atala and David Driham alias Dudu was exposed through a video shot on spy cam by Atala's former girlfriend, Lucky Farmhouse.

The Court, which received the investigation details during the hearing on a bail petition filed by Shirodkar, has observed that police had failed to take statement of the boy working in Atala's cyber cafe.

"When it was pointed out that the statement of the boy was not recorded, Public Prosecutor submitted that his statement would be recorded in the course of time," Justice N A Britto observed in his order on Wednesday.

The judge noted that "the investigations are going on for a considerable length of time and the statement of the said boy could have been recorded by now."

The FIR in the case was filed on March 5, 2010.

"I do not think that there is anyone in the state of Goa who is not prepared to believe that drugs are available in the market because of police, politician and drug peddler nexus," the court observed.

"Only persons who are connected with the said three classes, may protest such a statement. The statement cannot be easily proved is a different matter but the state is expected in the course of investigations to collect sufficient material by direct or circumstantial evidence to prove the same," the court ruled.

The policemen-drug peddler nexus came to light after Lucky's video showed Atala mentioning that Shirodkar was providing him the drugs seized during various raids by ANC.

Police department received another evidence when one more Israeli drug dealer Dudu was arrested for possessing drugs.

Dudu, during his interrogation, had named the police officers who were on his pay roll. The dealer had also named a journalist, who was fixed by ANC, not to write against him.

Comments

 

Other News

Climate change, El Niño rewrite Indian monsoon

The month of July exceeded its rainfall target despite forecasts of a below-normal month under a strengthening El Niño. The reason could be that climate change is amplifying monsoon complexity: West Pacific warming, Western Disturbances and evolving ocean conditions increasingly interact with El Ni&

Mumbai has just 1.28 sq.m. of open space per person: Study

Mumbai`s public space crisis is as much about mismanagement as it is about scarcity, and offers a governance roadmap that can be implemented without new legislation, according to a new report by the Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI) and the NGO Alliance for Governance and Renewal (NAGAR).  

Lok Sabha passes amendment bill to improve public examination system

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 by a voice vote after an extensive discussion. Replying to the debate, minister of state (independent charge) for science & technology; earth sciences and MoS in the PMO, Dr. Jite

Shri Abhijit Phukon (IES, 2004) appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

 Shri Abhijit Phukon (IES: 2004) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India. His appointment, approved by the

Shri Avanish Kumar Mishra (ISS, 2000) appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances.

 Shri Avanish Kumar Mishra (ISS: 2000) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India. The appointment, approved by the Appointments

Millets are thriving. Are millet farmers?

The story of millets is nothing short of extraordinary. Once seen as the food of the poor and downtrodden, they are now seen as the food of the health conscious and the elite. Today, these nutri-cereals occupy prominent shelves in premium supermarkets, feature on the menus of gourmet restaurants, and are e

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter