Goa Suspends ATS SP Over Portugal Birth and Marriage Registration

The Goa government has suspended Superintendent of Police Edwin Colaco of the Anti-Terrorist Squad following an anonymous vigilance complaint. The complaint alleged that Colaco travelled to Portugal between 2008 and 2010 and registered his birth and marriage there. A departmental inquiry has been initiated.

The suspension has renewed focus on Goans obtaining Portuguese citizenship. Many Goans born before December 1961 and their descendants are eligible to register as Portuguese citizens, offering visa-free access to UK and EU nations. Between 2015 and 2025, 26,612 Indian passports were surrendered by Goans who obtained Portuguese citizenship, official data shows.