Panaji, June 26 (IBNS): The state home ministry today transferred five superintendents of police including Crime Branch SP Mangaldas Desai, who is supervising high profile criminal cases, some of which involving politicians.

Desai was transferred as Deputy Commandant (Home Guards) and Deputy Director (Civil Defense), an insignificant posting with an additional charge of Economic Offenses Wing. 

IPS O P Mishra will now hold the charge of Crime Branch with an additional charge of anti narcotics cell. 

SP Arvind Gawas who held the South Goa district has been replaced by Allan D’Sa.

Gawas will hold the charge of Panaji police headquarters.

SP Shekhar Prabhudesai has been posted as SP Coastal Security.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who as Leader of Opposition accused Crime Branch as a tainted department of Goa police, had strongly advocated the posting of an IPS officer as the SP.   

Goa has a sanction of eight IPS officers, which includes one director general of police, one inspector general of police, two Deputy IGs and six superintendents of police. The department has more than a dozen Goa cadre officers to the post of SPs and Deputy SPs.

(Reporting by John Edwards)