Goa tablet-PC scam: Congress says Lokayukta sought CBI probe as he has no faith in state agencies

Panaji, Feb 18 (IANS) The Congress in Goa on Monday accused the BJP-led coalition government of trying to sabotage a CBI probe recommended by state Lokayukta in an alleged tablet-PC procurement scam, which took place in 2013.

Speaking to reporters in Panaji, state Congress president Girish Chodankar said the fact that the Goa Lokayukta P.K. Mishra in his report last month had recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation probe meant that the anti-corruption institution had no faith in state government's anti-corruption agencies.

"By recommending a CBI probe into the fraudulent tablet-PC procurement, Goa Lokayukta has indicated that he has no faith in the credentials of the state anti-corruption agencies. The Lokayukta report also implicates the state Anti-Corruption Bureau as well as the state Chief Secretary for dragging their feet in probing the scam," Chodankar said.

Mishra in his report had slammed state government agencies for ignoring his recommendations for a probe into the purchase of tablet-PCs in 2013, meant to be distributed for students of Class V and VI.

Mishra, in his report which hit the public domain last week, has said the state government was reluctant to probe the procurement because of "fear of old skeletons" tumbling out of cupboards.

The complainant in the case, Ashish Kamat, had alleged a Rs 12-crore scam in the tendered acquisition.