Goa to probe RTI activist Shetye's activities as a government servant and his assets

The Hindu: Panaji: Saturday, August 05, 2017.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday announced four separate official inquiries into the activities of Right to Information(RTI) activist and government employee Kashinath Shetye. Mr. Shetye, a junior engineer in the State Electricity Department, has over the last several years has filed 195 litigations against government agencies and officials over environment, corruption,-related issues and about mis-governance.

Already ruling BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral has moved a privilege motion against Mr. Shetye alleging that a question put by him to come up in the Assembly was found posted on Mr. Shetye’s Facebook page ahead of the session.

Mr. Parrikar told the House during question hour on Friday that Mr. Shetye’s activities as a government servant and his assets would be probed by various agencies, including a specially set up team headed by an all-India cadre officer from the IAS or IPS.

“195 cases in five years, 459 leave applications. I am wondering when he was working for the government,” Mr. Parrikar said, in response to a question from Mr. Cabral.

Mr. Parrikar also said, that Mr. Shetye’s disproportionate assets case would be probed by the Anti-Corruption Branch of the Vigilance Department of the State.

An inquiry would be initiated into how he obtained a gun-licence, a Vigilance department team would assist an IPS/IAS officer in another probe and another independent probe will verify whether Mr. Shetye has violated Central Civil Service rules during his tenure in government service.

“I will appoint a senior person, preferably from all-India cadre,” the Chief Minister said.

“I cannot reveal many things because you have also moved a privilege motion against the person. So some investigation is also a part of privilege motion,” Mr. Parrikar said.

The privilege motion was filed by Mr. Cabral just in the beginning of the current monsoon session after Mr. Shetye uploaded a question submitted by Mr. Cabral to the Speaker’s office, to his Facebook wall.

The question was seeking to know from the Department of Electricity the details of Mr. Shetye’s attendance and the number of litigations filed by him.