Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 13: Goa Police have been directed to conduct test identification parades (TIPs) promptly, particularly in cases where the accused is unknown to witnesses, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, amid several court orders pointing to lapses in investigations that resulted in acquittals in rape and murder cases.

Sawant clarified that TIPs are not mandatory in every case, but said they are essential in certain cases and should be conducted accordingly.

“In certain cases, TIP is essential and accordingly it is held. Further corrective measures include directing investigating officers to conduct TIPs promptly, particularly when the accused is unknown to witnesses,” Sawant said.

Advocates and retired senior police officers have alleged that investigations conducted by Goa Police officers often fail to meet the standards required to ensure justice.

Responding to cases that ended in acquittals, Sawant said such matters are reviewed by the Acquittal Review Standing Committee headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police. Necessary action is taken against investigating officers found responsible for lapses, he said.

He added that training sessions are organised periodically for investigating officers to improve their skills and enhance the conviction rate.

However, Sawant said no departmental inquiry had been initiated against any police officer during the last five years solely on the basis of adverse court findings concerning defective investigation.

“However, during the review of acquittals by the Standing Committee, if any case resulted in acquittal due to lapses on the part of investigating officer, a show cause notice is issued and an explanation is obtained from the concerned officer,” Sawant said.

The Chief Minister said the police department currently maintains Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs) for officers. Their performance is evaluated and graded annually based on the quality of investigations conducted by them.

The issue of investigation lapses has come under scrutiny following several recent court cases.

In one case, the Bombay High Court acquitted a 28-year-old man from a northeastern state who had been accused of raping a 63-year-old businesswoman and resort owner in Goa.

The court held that the accused could not be convicted merely on the basis of his voice being identified by the survivor. The court also criticised the prosecution, noting that there was no conclusive DNA evidence linking the accused to the semen detected in vaginal smears.

In another case, Goa Police maintained that there was no point in conducting a test identification parade if photographs of the accused had already been shown to witnesses, despite the established procedure for holding TIPs to establish identification evidence.

The issue also arose in the murder case of Vasco resident Gayatri Marathe. Police had shown photographs of the accused to witnesses. However, the court observed that identification through photographs was not valid. As a result, the murder case could not stand at the stage of framing of charges.