The Goa CBI Court has today directed Goa’s former Director of Prosecution Mrs. Shobha Dhumaskar to face trial on corruption charges under Section 13 (2) read with Section 13 (1) (d) (i) & (ii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The Court rejected the devious plea by the Anti- Corruption branch (ACB) which was seeking to close the corruption case against Shobha Dhumaskar.
While seeking to close the case the ACB had informed the Court that though the corruption case against Shobha Dhumaskar was true the evidence was weak to charge sheet Mrs. Dhumaskar as the loss to the exchequer was only Rs 61,200 and that the amount was being recovered. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had on 7th May last year by a written order approved the closure of the corruption case against Shobha Dhumaskar. It was obviously to reward Shobha . Dhumaskar for having issued a circular on 29th May 2012 directing all Public Prosecutors and Assistant Public Prosecutors to withdraw all criminal cases against politicians. Despite all his tall talk on Zero tolerance to Corruption in spite of a F.I.R having being registered against Shobha Dhumaskar, the Chief Mr. Manohar Parrikar instead of suspending her had high-handedly given her two extensions in service along with a very hefty pay hike. On 5th August 2011 a complaint was filed with the Anti- Corruption Branch against Shobha Dhumaskar for her alleged corrupt act and causing loss to the State exchequer. A 76 sq mts flat at ‘Mutual Apartments’, at Panaji was leased by the then Director of Prosecution Shobha Dhumaskar in a manner showing undue favoritism and causing loss to the State exchequer. Shobha Dhumaskar went out of the way to lease that flat without issuing a public advertisement and she had permitted the owners of the flat undue financial advantage at the cost of the State exchequer intentionally causing a huge financial loss to the State Exchequer. As the Anti Corruption Branch declined to register the F.I.R against Shobha Dhumaskar a petition was filed before the Special Court under the Prevention of corruption Act which on 21st April 2012 directed that an F.I.R be registered against Shobha Dhumaskar. The battle against corruption is not an easy one. It has been over three years since the complaint against Shobha Dhumaskar was filed. At least now the decks have cleared for the former Director of Prosecution Shobha Dhumaskar to be herself prosecuted. The long arm of the law slowly but surely catches up. It will be an interesting trial to watch. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires