Goa home minister’s sons get personal security
September 22nd, 2010 - 7:34 pm ICT by IANSPanaji, Sep 22 (IANS) The Goa government Wednesday provided personal security officers (PSOs) to both sons of Home Minister Ravi Naik after the police “uncovered” a plot to kill one of them.
Superintendent of Police (Security) Tony Fernandes said the decision to provide PSOs to Naik’s sons — Roy and Ritesh — was taken on the recommendation of senior officials after recently-arrested criminal Michael Fernandes confessed to accepting a “supari” (contract) to kill Roy.
“Following this, we have decided to provide PSOs to the home minister’s both sons. The home minister’s security had already been enhanced from ‘Z’ category to ‘Z Plus’ category in May after a security review meeting,” Fernandes said.
Roy (35), has been surrounded by controversies of late, after slain British teenager Scarlett Keeling’s mother Fiona MacKeown accused him of administering drugs to her daughter. Scarlett was found lying dead at Anjuna beach in north Goa in February 2008.
A Swedish model and former girlfriend of Israeli drug dealer Yaniv Benaim alias Atala also accused Roy of having links with the drug mafia.
The opposition has demanded a probe into the allegations and demanded that the home minister be stripped of his portfolio to facilitate an impartial probe.
Police sources said Michael, a key accused in nearly 35 cases in Goa and other neighbouring states, had confessed during interrogation that he had accepted ’supari’ (contract) at a popular pub in Baga this month to kill Roy. Michael was arrested Sep 10.
Police are, however, tight-lipped about those who had given Michael the contract to kill Roy, who is bracing up to start his political innings in the legislative assembly election scheduled next year.
Police spokesperson Atmaram Deshpande said he was not aware of the development.
- Indo Asian News Service
maya/lnd/vt
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