IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION WP NO. 2 OF 2011 SUNIL RAGHUNATH KAWTHANKAR ... Petitioner Versus STATE OF GOA THROUGH THE SECRETARY (HOME) AND 3 ORS., ... Respondents Mr. S.G. Dessai, Senior Advocate with Mr. V. R. Parshekar, Advocate for the Petitioner. Mr. S.S. Kantak, Advocate General with Mr. A. Kamat, Additional Government Advocate for Respondents Nos.1 to 3. Mr. S.R. Rivonkar, Special Public Prosecutor for Respondent No.4. Mr. C.A. Ferreira, Assistant Solicitor General for Respondent No.5. Coram:- S. C. DHARMADHIKARI & F. M. REIS, JJ. Date:- 4th May, 2011 P.C.: On 5/04/2011 and 28/04/2011, we had recorded the statements of the learned Assistant Solicitor General. It is now clear that for the investigations in all three crimes namely Crime No.16/2010, 3/2011, so also Crime No.5/2010, the request has been made and consent has been given by the Government of Goa to hand over the investigations to the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI). The necessary notifications were issued in the earlier two crimes even at the level of the Central Government. Now, on 3/05/2011 the notification is issued by the Government of Goa giving its consent to handing over the investigations in Crime No.5/2010 registred at Anti-Narcotic Police Station, Panaji-Goa to the CBI. 2. In these circusmtances, we are of the opinion that the Union of India may issue the necessary directions as expeditiously as possible and within a period of four weeks from today, so that the investigations in all crimes are taken over by the CBI. 3. We take note of the submissions made by Shri Dessai, the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the Petitioner that the offences alleged are indeed serious and the prima facie observations of the learned Single Judge of this Court while disposing of a bail application, ought to be seriously viewed. There is a general concern and equally the Court is anxious that if there is any nexus as prima facie indicated between the drug dealers, drug peddlers and the State Police Machinery, then, that also must be investigated thoroughly by the CBI. We have no doubt in our mind that the CBI will do so and bearing in mind the observations of this Court act expeditiously, so as to bring the guilty to book. 4. The petition is disposed off in the light of the statements and the notifications placed on record. S. C. DHARMADHIKARI, J. F. M. REIS, J. NH