Article: Winnie Coutinho puts in her papers, govt accepts them

**Atul Patankar** · 05-15-2010, 10:43 AM

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**Atul Patankar** · 06-07-2010, 06:46 PM

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As reported at timesofindia.indiatimes.com on Jun 7, 2010

PANAJI: The director of prosecution has written to former public prosecutor (PP) Winnie Coutinho asking her to hand over all the case files currently in her possession.

"You were directed to hand over all the case files with you along with the list to the undersigned. However, till date you have not handed over the case files with you nor the list of cases as directed. You are required to comply with the government directions immediately," wrote director of prosecution Shobha Dhumaskar in a letter on June 4.

Coutinho was forced to resign after social activist Aires Rodrigues, under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, had found that the then chief secretary J P Singh, justifying the need to terminate her services, had noted, "She claims incomparable success in her cases but there is no supporting data. On the contrary there is an overwhelming amount of evidence which shows that she has been claiming expenditure running into many thousands of rupees from many departments''. He said "her continuance in office is not desirable".

A matter pointed out by the chief secretary was in reference to a criminal case at Canacona in which the accused was acquitted. Though the prosecution decided to go in appeal to the high court, the PP, Coutinho, in the high court "has without application of mind withdrawn the above appeal from the high court."

Though her services were terminated, another order was passed on the same day keeping the earlier order in abeyance until further order. More than two years later, though her termination order was never revoked, she continued to be the PP of the high court as the termination order was kept in abeyance.

Soon after the matter came to light, she submitted her resignation as public prosecutor. The home department passed an order on Friday relieving her from service with effect from May 31, 2010.