Panaji: After being caught on record making
frequent calls to a drug peddler, the lawyers defending the
suspended police constables for their alleged links to drug
dealers, have now claimed it was a `strategy to plan for the
future raid.`
"He is a police and was developing particular scenario
for future raid. How can this be an evidence against him?"
lawyer Peter Jose D`Souza defending head constable Sheikh
Hussain in the police-drug peddler nexus case said, while
defending the phone calls in the court on Monday.
The arguments were heard in the Narcotics drugs and
psychotropic substances court during the bail petition filed
by head constable Hussain and constable Sandip Parab.
Six policemen including police Inspector Ashish
Shirodkar were suspended after a video uploaded on youtube
claimed their involvement with Israeli drug peddler, Yaniv
Benaim alias Atala.
Five policemen were arrested on charges of criminal
conspiracy and under prevention of corruption act while a
constable is on the run evading arrest warrant. Crime Branch
officials who are probing the nexus were stunned to know that
one of the constables had called him for almost 400 times and
head constable also made frequent calls to the drug peddler
before the entire nexus was exposed.
Public prosecutor Shiral Monteiro had earlier contended
that the accused had made 400 calls to the drug peddler.
"We have traced the call....not a single raid was carried
out even as 400 calls were made to drug dealers. If they
(alleged accused policemen) were collecting information or
sources, why nothing is done. Their involvement has come into
being. It is in connivance with the drug dealers," the PP said
supporting her arguments.
PTI
