Panaji, Jul 2 (IANS): Denying having protected his brother-in law in a graft case, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Friday said prompt action was taken in the matter, adding that the accused must not suffer more just because he was his (Parsekar's) relative.

Parsekar's reaction came in the wake of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's charge that the Goa leader was protecting his brother-in law Dilip Malvankar.

"The allegation against my relative was made around a year ago. I took the initiative and called the Goa Industrial Development Corporation chairman. Malvankar and other accused were suspended from service," Parsekar said.

Malvankar, a corporation field officer, was arrested in August 2015 along with another colleague by the Goa Anti-Corruption Bureau on charge of accepting Rs 1 lakh as bribe to facilitate allocation of an industrial plot in Tuem village, 35 km from Panaji.

However, Malvankar's reinstatement last month, coupled with transfer of key officials, including Police Inspector Nolasco Raposo who is probing the bribe case, triggered a controversy as the opposition parties accused Parsekar of shielding his relative.

"Suspension (of a government employee) is reviewed every three months. Even courts say that if suspension is prolonged, the suspended employee is getting salary without working. Those who have committed crime should suffer, but should someone be punished more only because someone is my relative?" the Chief Minister said.

"Some say the Superintendent of Police concerned was transferred. All SPs are transferred after their term in a particular post is over. Do they mean to say that the SP or Deputy SP (who were transferred) were investigating this particular case only," Parsekar said.