PANAJI: Making a statement in the state legislative assembly on the issue of the alleged police-drug trade-politicians nexus, the Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik on Friday stated that the police investigations have revealed that accused police officials were in constant touch with Yaniv Benaim alias Atala and hence were arrested and the police have been able to collect all possible evidence in support of allegations made in the CD. He also said the case was filed after the CD was broadcast on a local news channel and a suo moto case filed by the police.

As the Home Minister rose to make the statement the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party members started shouting slogans and nothing was audible in the din created by them following which Mr Naik placed the statement on the table of the House at the direction of the Speaker, Mr Pratapsing Rane, copies of which were subsequently made available to the reporters.

In his statement in the House for the first time on the issue, Mr Naik said that there was truth in the allegations about the theft of drug from the police go-down and its sale in the market. He went on to add that there was also evidence to show that the officials of the anti-narcotics cell accused in the case were involved in wrongdoings and the same has been brought on record based on the statements of the witnesses.

Stating that the police have on several occasions contacted Ms Lucky Farmhouse alias Amori on her e-mail address to record her statement and collected available evidence from her, he has further said that she has responded by telling the police that she would be visiting India by the end of August.

He also stated that the police have sent letters rogatory to Interpol on June 11, 2010 to obtain details of Ms Farmhouse and that another letter to the Union government to obtain approval to depute a team to Sweden to record her statement and collect evidence. He also stated that David Drahim alias Dudu has refused to make any statement in the case and that he denied having made any statement before the inquiry officer of ANC.

Mr Naik said the police have been able to initiate action against the drug dealers as well as the police officials to break the nexus between them. Despite having taken action, the criticism from certain quarters could demoralise the police force, he added.Further stating that it was not that the drug related activities were not taking place in the state before he took over, he went on to add that despite there having been a number of cases no one took action against the police for their nexus with drug dealers. He said that the allegations against the police were politically motivated and that the same was being done to divert the attention of the people from one subject or the other.

Soliciting co-operation from all quarters in his mission to eradicate the menace of drugs and maintain law and order, Mr Naik said the present action was not against a particular police official but against the attitude of the police officials. He further stated that nobody was above law.

The Home Minister said the opposition has a role to keep a check on the ruling and ensure that there were no faults in administration for the welfare of the people but not to misguide the people for political mileage.

Stating that the common man was not conversant with procedural law, Mr Naik urged the politicians in the state to be careful while making statements on very important issues and refrain from misleading the people of the state to gain political mileage.