The lawyer of the Goa Cricket Association president Chetan Dessai today alleged that some BJP leaders were behind the arrest of his client for an alleged fraud.
The police's submission before the court, opposing his bail plea, clearly says the probe was being carried out on the directions of "a superior", said his lawyer Surendra Dessai, arguing before the magistrate Vijayalaxmi Shivolkar.
The police suppressed an earlier complaint lodged by Chetan Dessai about the fraud and took prompt action on a second complaint which was against him, the lawyer said.
Chetan Dessai, GCA Secretary Vinod Phadke and Treasurer Akbar Mulla were arrested by the Economic Offences Cell of Goa police on June 15 on the charge of misappropriation of Rs 3.13 crore of the Association's funds.
Advocate Dessai said that Chetan Dessai, Phadke and Mulla had filed a complaint on May 9 about misappropriation of funds. But police registered an FIR over this complaint only on June 2, hours before the second complaint in the same matter (which was against the trio) was filed by GCA life member Vilas Dessai.
"Kindly consider...Whether the government had stopped them from registering FIR on the complaint by Dessai, Phadke and Mulla. I don't blame police as they are under the (state) home department," advocate Dessai said.
"A panel headed by BJP functionary Shekhar Salkar which had party's MLA Subhash Faldessai and wife of BJP minister Rajendra Arlekar on it was defeated by my client (at GCA elections)....There is a possibility of victimising (through arrest)," the lawyer said.
Manager of the Development Credit Bank's local branch who
allowed opening of a fake account and withdrawal of money should be interrogated by the police rather than questioning the GCA members as the cheque issued by BCCI never reached GCA's office, the lawyer said.
Police's case is that Chetan Dessai and others opened a bank account under a fake name, deposited a BCCI cheque there, and subsequently siphoned off the money.
Prosecutor Poonam Bharne would argue on the bail applications tomorrow.
