THURSDAY, JULY 04, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Pooja Sharma, one of the accused in the Assagao house demolition case, on Monday filed an anticipatory bail application before the North Goa District and Sessions Court, Panjim.
The Court will hear Sharma’s anticipatory bail application on Wednesday, July 3.
After being elusive for eight days, Sharma moved the Sessions Court after the Goa police issued two notices to her asking her to appear before the police for inquiry, into the incident of partial demolition of a house at Bairo Alto, Assagao on June 22. However, both the notices issued under Section 41 A of CrPC could not be delivered as Sharma was not found at her Chandivali, Mumbai residence.
The State government and the Police are tight lipped on this case and whether both the notices were served to Pooja Sharma.
The Anjuna police had registered and FIR against Pooja Sharma and other unknown persons following a complaint by Prinsha Agarwadekar, whose family is currently residing in the house. The case was registered under Sections 365 and 427 read with 34 of IPC. It was later transferred to the Crime Branch, who added more Section of IPC, against the accused.
Sharma in her anticipatory bail application has stated that she had not visited the State since January this year. Sharma, who purchased the property bearing Survey No 135/1-A in September last year has stated that the seller Chrys Pinto had told her that the structure belongs to him and that he would vacate it and give it to her.
The property admeasuring 600 square metres was purchased for consideration of a total sum of Rs 1.14 crore. The area of the structure was 23 years old and it was valued at Rs 18 lakh and the land was valued at Rs 96 lakh.
The Agarwadekars’ house was partially demolished on June 22, 2024 with heavy machinery without serving any notice from any authority. Bouncers were employed in executing the daring act.
So far the crime Branch has arrested six persons including three women bouncers. Five of these six were present on the spot and sixth one conspired with the main accused persons and gave his vehicle for commission of offence.
The police teams were sent to Belagavi and Mumbai to nab the absconding accused, but in vain.
Adv Pavithran A V is arguing on behalf of land owner Pooja Sharma.
CM ducks question on DGP’s transfer, says he will brief media
PANJIM: While enjoying a joyride on an air-conditioned electric-bus from Panjim to Porvorim, reporters bowled a googly to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday.
The question was about the news doing the rounds that the Director General of Police (DGP) Jaspal Singh, IPS would be transferred out of the State for his alleged role in the Assagao house demolition case.
The Chief Minister, who may have been expecting the googly, said that he would address a press conference on the DGP Jaspal Singh’s transfer.
Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, who is conducting an inquiry into the Assagao house demolition case, and DGP came face toface at a function, where books were released regarding implementation of three new laws at Police Headquarters Panjim.
The DGP is in the eye of a storm after Anjuna Police Inspector Prashal Dessai reportedly disclosed that he was told to facilitate the demolition of the Agarwadekars’ house at Assagao. The Anjuna PI also alleged that when he tried to stop the demolition, he received a phone call from the DGP saying that
action would be taken against him and he would be trapped in a false narcotic case.
Though it has been some days since the social media was abuzz with the news of the report, neither the State government nor the Chief Secretary has clarified about the unsigned report, copies of which were available on social media.
However, during a press conference SP (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta, IPS had said that the unsigned report was 'being verified and investigated.'
But the Chief Secretary Puneet Goel in his reply to O Heraldo had said "Everything is in the papers. I have nothing to add"
The Crime Branch has constituted a four-member SIT to investigate the Assagao house demolition case which was initially investigated by the Anjuna Police Station.
