The Congress in Goa on Sunday filed a police complaint against Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar; Secretary, Mines; and Director of Mines and Geology for abetment of the alleged suicide of a suspended official of the Goa State Mines and Geology Department.
Congress leader Sudip Tamhankar lodged the complaint, alleging that suspended official Dattatray Bhave (54) was forced to take the extreme step following harassment from the department.
Under suspension
Bhave, an assistant geologist, and five other officials were suspended in the aftermath of the Shah Commission inquiry findings on illegal mining. The officer was handling grant of no-objection certificates for iron ore export. He was under suspension for 10 days since the Commission report was tabled in the Lok Sabha and the State government moved to act on it.
In his complaint, Mr. Tamhankar said Mr. Parrikar should be interrogated and booked for the official’s alleged suicide at his house in Warkhande-Ponda (north Goa) in the early hours of Friday.
Family’s charge
Bhave’s family alleged that he was humiliated, mentally tortured and harassed by the department, forcing him to take the extreme step.
Director of Mines Prasanna Acharya and South Goa Collector N.D. Agarwal have denied these charges.
Senior police officials said they would study the charges in the complaint.
The ruling BJP has criticised the Congress, saying the Opposition party was making a political capital out of a human tragedy.
The Shah Commission report has put the figure of loss to the State exchequer on account of diverse illegal and irregular mining operations at Rs. 35,000 crore and recommended that all responsible must be punished.
Mr. Parrikar has described the alleged suicide as “a tragedy.”
