PANAJI (GOA)

 

AAP today stated that instead of responding to the charges of corruption in the sports department made by an official of the Sports department who acted as a whistleblower, the Government was going slow on the complaint and allowing sports department officials to pressurise the official to withdraw the complaint he has filed before the authorities. AAP stated that there has been no denial by any authority and no action is seen to have been taken on the complaint, but on the contrary, a show cause issued to official is itself a sign of panic button and shows that a cover up is being attempted by the  those involved.

 

 AAP Gen Secretary Pradeep Padgaonkar said that in a letter to the Chief Vigilance Officer who is also the Chief Secretary, AAP leader Valmiki Naik had pointed out that it was expected that the CVO would order a thorough investigation and atleast transfer all those suspects to prevent tampering with the records as there is possibility of the destruction of the evidence. However , he said that those accused had a free hand to destroy all records thus showing that containing loot of public resources was the last on the mind of this coalition Government.

 

Padgaonkar said that Valmiki Naik in the letter has also stated that a similar case of alleged corruption in the sports dept was under investigation by the vigilance dept in which however it appears that the investigation is stalled and the file is gathering dust. He further said that perhaps the perpetrators of the crime  in the sports department were emboldened  to commit more crimes.

 

“As the CVO, we expect you to take measures to ensure transparency in the investigation of the past case and place the present status of the same in public domain. So also we request that immediate action be taken against those involved in exerting pressure on the whistle blower and grant him suitable protection” said Naik in his letter.

 

Speaking to the media AAP convenor Elvis Gomes added that interestingly earlier a Peon in the office of the transport department who was caught by the ACB accepting cash of one lakh allegedly for the Director himself was treated with kid gloves and the outcome of the investigation appears to have been buried. He said that now a peon of the sports department who was trying to help the government is being put under pressure to withdraw to withdraw the complaint. In both cases the end result is to help those indulging in loot of the public.