Goa undecided on CBI probe into cop-drug mafia nexus

PANAJI - The Goa government is yet undecided about handing over the police-drug mafia nexus probe, which also involves a senior state politician, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Thursday said.

Kamat told reporters here that he has not even seen the directive of the Panaji bench of the Bombay high court, which asked the government to inform the court whether the nexus probe would be handed over to the CBI.

“I have not even seen the order. I have not discussed the issue yet with the home secretary and the home minister. They may put it up (in the evening,” Kamat said.

The high court Wednesday asked the state government to inform formally, by Friday, whether it was considering handing over the nexus probe to the CBI.

Kamat also evaded queries on whether the government was keen on handing over the probe, which has already seen the arrest of seven policemen and two drug dealers over the last two months.

A Swedish model, a former girlfriend of an Israeli drug dealer, whose spycam videos busted the nexus, has also alleged that a son of a leading politician, suspected to be a key senior minister in the Kamat cabinet, was linked to the narcotics trade in Goa.

Goa, a well known beach destination attracting nearly 2.4 million tourists annually, is also known for easy availability of narcotics.