Panaji (Goa): The Anti Corruption Branch of Goa Police which has trapped Goa’s disgraced Additional North Goa Collector Sabaji Shetye while accepting bribe has said that the case against him will serve as a deterrent to the corrupt officials.

“The offence registered against accused will serve as deterrent and encourage more people to come forward against such corrupt government servants in order to finish the corruption in the society,” the ACB had said in their application to oppose the bail plea filed by Shetye.

Shetye was arrested while accepting Rs 25,000 which was a part of the bribe of Rs 1.25 lakh that he demanded from an applicant who had sought NOC from him to procure licene to store explosives.

After his arrest, Shetye had moved for the bail which was rejected on Thursday by Principal Additional Sessions Judge Irshad Agha.

“The corruption in government office is like an evil destroying  the social fabric of the society, which needs to be eradicated and present case serves as a deterrent to corrupt officials,” the ACB said.

“The accused was holding a high position as an officer of the rank of additional collector and an influential person on the society, if the accused is released on bail he may influence the witnesses and may also destroy evidence which will hamper the investigation of the case,” police had told the court.

The police had said that they want to “attach incriminating articles like bank details, bank lockers to find out where he has kept his ill-gotten cash, gold, property papers by way of bribes.”

The ACB had said that “if accused is granted bail, it will send wrong signal and no one will come forward to file such cases of demand by the public servants.”

Team TNV