Goa CM assures impartial probe into graft charge against IGP

Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told the state assembly on Friday that a non-police official will conduct an impartial inquiry into bribery allegations against Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg.

"An independent and impartial inquiry by a non-police official will be conducted into the serious corruption charges made against IGP Garg," Parsekar said.

A local businessman on Thursday accused Garg of demanding and accepting Rs 5.5 lakh in bribe for registering a First Information Report in a cheating case.

Munnalal Halwai, who runs a business establishment in the port town of Vasco, 35 km from the state capital, said he paid the bribe to Garg in two instalments in 2015, including once in the senior police official`s cabin at the police headquarters in Panaji.

"Garg first demanded 10 per cent of Rs 1.15 crore, the amount I was cheated of, for registration of the FIR. After bargaining he agreed to have the FIR registered at the Ponda police station for around Rs 5 lakh," Halwai told reporters at a press conference in Panaji.

He also played out an audio clip which purportedly contained the recording of a conversation between Garg and himself at the police headquarters in September 2015.

The Inspector General has denied the allegations. Garg said: "I flatly deny the allegations." He, however, did not deny meeting Halwai, and asserted that he had not done anything wrong.

In a statement issued here, Congress spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar also demanded the immediate suspension of Garg.