Panaji: In a developing controversy, Goa’s Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recommending the transfer of state DGP Jaspal Singh. This comes a day after a report, allegedly from a policeman at Anjuna police station, claimed that Singh pressured subordinates to permit the demolition of a house in North Goa’s Assagao. The Indian Express has learned this information from a reliable source.
The incident in question occurred on June 22, when Prinsha Agarwadekar and her husband were in their Bairo Alto Assagao home, which they claim to have owned since 2001. According to Agarwadekar, 15 people forcibly entered their house, claiming they had orders to demolish it. At least eight individuals have been arrested so far.
Agarwadekar accused her landlord of fraudulently selling the property to a Mumbai-based woman, who is among those booked. The DGP has denied all allegations, labeling them as “baseless, invented, and preposterous.”
Following these allegations, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant directed Chief Secretary Goel to conduct an inquiry, leading to the suspension of three police officers from the Anjuna police station. The alleged report mentioned that the DGP asserted the Mumbai-based woman was the property’s rightful owner and discouraged action on the complaint. It further stated that on the incident day, the DGP called a police officer questioning why the demolition had been halted.
The controversy has sparked a political uproar, with the Opposition demanding a high-level inquiry led by a retired High Court judge, accusing the incident of being driven by “land and real-estate mafia.”
