Goa CM defends reinstatement of kin, says 'law is equal for all'

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Tuesday defended his brother-in-law's reinstatement in the government service despite graft charges against him, saying "law is equal for all".

"He was suspended from the service, not terminated. The law is equal for all. We have reinstated several officers in the past who were suspended for different reasons. This is one such case," said Parsekar who has come under fire from the Opposition over the issue.

Congress, AAP, NCP and Goa Forward have criticised the CM after his brother-in-law Dilip Malvankar was reinstated in the state-run Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) last week. Last August, the ACB caught Malvankar red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs one lakh for allotment of land in Tuem Industrial Estate.

Parsekar said he himself had ordered Malvankar's immediate suspension. "I don't understand why my name is unnecessarily being dragged into the issue. He is just my relative," the Chief Minister said.

Congress and Goa Forward have said they will submit a petition to Governor Mridula Sinha over the issue, while AAP has demanded the Chief Minister's explanation within seven days.