With five former Anti Narcotic Cell (ANC) policemen behind bars for their alleged links with drug mafia, the Russian consulate has raised doubts over the cases filed against two of their nationals by the cell in Goa.
In a March 11 communication to inspector general of police Sundari Nanda, the consulate has raised concerns about the duo languishing in jail, especially after inspector Ashish Shirodkar, who booked them, is facing probe by the Crime Branch.
Shirodkar, earlier attached to ANC, and four other policemen were arrested last week for their alleged nexus with Israeli drug peddler Yaniv Benaim.
"The samples of drugs confiscated from the accused are yet to be examined. We have also understood through media reports that the credibility of Investigating Officer has been doubtful," the letter, written by Consulate of Russian Federation in Mumbai, has said.
Victor Koplenko and V Korovael were arrested by ANC in 2009 in separate drug cases. They were awaiting framing of charges against them in absence of police failing to examine the drug content allegedly confiscated from them.
Koplenko, in a letter to the consulate last year, had claimed that the plainclothes policemen who raided his rented flat at Pernem village near here went away with medicines.
The consulate has sought the attention of home minister Ravi Naik in the matter.
When contacted, Russian consulate representative and lawyer Vikram Varma expressed the hope the state would re-scrutinise both the cases in view of the allegations against the investigating officer.
"The NDPS Act (under which the cases have been filed) provides extraordinary powers to the police. Such powers are normally reposed in men with impeccable credibility," he said.
Unfortunately, the credibility of the main officer in the case of Victor Kaplenko is being seriously doubted by Goa police themselves, Varma said.
"In these circumstances the matter does need another scrutiny. I am confident the senior officers of the Goa police would look into the matter and take appropriate action."
The ANC officials said there was no inordinate delay in investigations.
"We have sent several reminders to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory at Hyderabad to furnish the reports (of drug samples)," Veenu Bansal, superintendent of police (ANC), said.
The police will send another reminder to the laboratory, he said, adding a provisional chargesheet without the sample report was filed against Koplenko last month.
