CBI teams to probe Goa police-drug cartel nexus
The Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will be forming three teams to investigate into the much hyped Goa police-drug cartel nexus.
Deputy Inspector General of the CBI-ACB Pravin Salunke told media persons on Thursday that each team will be headed by an investigating officer under the overall supervision of CBI?s Superintendent of Police, based in Mumbai.
CBI headquarters in Delhi, on May 8, handed over the three narcotics cases to the Goa ACB-CBI, although a formal notification from the Department of Personnel and Training is yet to be issued.
Salunke said that investigators will begin probing the infamous nexus involving Israelis Yaniv Benaim alias Atala and David Driham alias Dudu, suspended Police Sub Inspector Sunil Gudlar, former Anti Narcotics Cell police inspector Ashish Shirodkar and six other tainted policemen, once its headquarters issues a formal notification.
?The staff of Goa CBI-ACB is inadequate. Hence, we will draw investigators from other CBI branches to probe into the nexus,? he said further.
The senior officer said that they would move an application seeking to quash the chargesheet filed against Dudu before the NDPS Court while they will also take over Atala?s extradition process.
The Israeli fugitive was arrested by the Interpol at Lima International Airport on January 8 after they found a red-corner notice issued against him. His extradition process to bring him back to India is however pending since then.
Atala?s jilted girlfriend Lucky farmhouse had shot him on spy-cam bragging his connection with the policemen. She also claimed that state Home Minister Ravi Naik?s son Roy was also involved in drugs trade as he frequented Atala?s home in Goa?s northern coastal belt.
The Panaji bench of Bombay High Court had transferred the cases to the CBI following a petition by Congress? frontal organization National Students Union of India demanding a CBI probe, alleging that the conduct of the police officers probing it was doubtful.