Congress, AAP demand judicial probe into missing body of Goa footballer
Panaji, Oct 1 : The Congress and AAP on Monday demanded a judicial probe into the mysterious disappearance of the mortal remains of a 24-year-old footballer from the mortuary of Goa's biggest government hospital.
The demand comes on a day when Director General of Police (DGP) Muktesh Chander directed the Crime Branch to take over the investigation of the shocking case, over which Health Minister Vishwajit Rane's resignation is being demanded by the opposition.
"A retired High Court judge should be investigating the case and not Goa Police. At the least it is criminal negligence of the highest order. We want Rane to resign," Congress spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar told a press conference.
Aam Aadmi Party's Goa convenor Elvis Gomes said that "no amount of damage control will restore confidence in what the government is doing.
"Only an enquiry by a judge, whether sitting or retired, will be able to get to the root of the matter," he said.
Earlier, Goa DGP Chander ordered the transfer of the case to the Crime Branch following a formal request by Rane.
"Considering the gravity of the offence and to ensure a thorough and more professional investigation, the case stands transferred to Crime Branch with immediate effect," the top cop's order reads.
Three officials attached to the Goa Medical College near Panaji were suspended by the Health Ministry on Saturday after the body of Januz Gonsalves, a resident of Aldona village, went missing.
An internal probe by the Health Ministry revealed that the body was reportedly switched and cremated along with unclaimed cadavers which are routinely disposed of by hospital authorities.
The incident came to light after the family turned up at the morgue on Saturday to claim the remains.
Rane has already issued a public apology for the goof-up even as the Congress has demanded his resignation.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
