Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar defends graft-tainted brother-in-law

Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Friday came out in defence of his brother-in-law and state Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) officer Dilip Malvankar who was arrested by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) in an alleged graft case.

"Just because he (Malvankar) is my relative (it) does not mean (that) he should get more punishment. There is a law of the land and it will take care of any wrongdoing, be it by me or any of my relative," Parsekar told reporters here.

Malvankar, a field officer in the state-run GIDC, was arrested last August for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs one lakh that he had sought for "allotting" land in Tuem industrial estate in North Goa.

However, he was reinstated early last month, evoking sharp criticism from various political parties including Congress and AAP who accused Parsekar of "interference".

ACB is yet to file a chargesheet against Malvankar.

Parsekar, who had denied any interference on his part in the probe against Malvankar, said, "It was me who had decided to suspend Malvankar soon after the allegations against him surfaced. But the suspension has to be reviewed after every three months".

"Even courts have said that instead of giving full salary to a suspended employee let him do some work," he added.

Responding to a claims that he was behind the transfer of ACB officials who had trapped Malvankar as alleged by AAP, Parsekar said, "... Are there no transfers happening in ACB? ... Transfer of SPs and DSPs or any other officer after every two years is a routine affair. How can you link it to just one case?"