PANAJI
He was dismissed from the Goa police and with this, also had doors to other government jobs closed but criminal-minded James D'Souza's visible influence over some in the police department remains unbeatable.
Of around seven cases against him on record, he has managed to get at least three cases closed through closure reports.
Whether it was firing shots in the air with a licensed gun or engaging in armed robbery, in three cases against him at Mapusa and Pernem police stations, the investigating officers preferred to close investigations rather than gather evidence.
Despite the supposed evidence of abuse by him of his revolver in 2022, there has been no recommendation for the suspension of his license as yet. Sources revealed to The Goan that his affidavit to the police alone was sufficient to secure closures by the concerned investigating officers.
Last year, he allegedly targeted one Naved Shaikh from Bicholim. D'Souza and his gang not only wrongfully restrained the former at the Bastora flyover but posed as officers of the Anti Narcotics Cell and fired shots in the air before robbing him. While a complaint was filed and First Information Report (FIR) registered, the Mapusa police filed a 'C Final Summary,' indicating the case was false. However, sources question how the investigation team managed to seize cartridges from the crime scene that occurred around 4:30 am if the case was indeed false.
Around 5:20 am on the same day, a State complaint was lodged, alleging that D'Souza along with two others, had "negligently fired shots, endangering human life and property." The case has been charge-sheeted, but the trial is yet to commence.
Sources revealed that in two other cases where D'Souza was allegedly involved, the Pernem police filed A Summary report, confirming that the cases were true but the police could not gather evidence.
Surprisingly, in these cases, D'Souza was accused of grabbing immoveable property on the strength of forged and fabricated documents, with the involvement of his crime partner, a Russian woman named Yulia. Although the investigating officer tried to close the case, the Court in Pernem after hearing the matter refused to accept the closure report and ordered further investigation.
In another case, a gang of four reportedly used a revolver to threaten a Russian national asking him to sell his property valued at around two crores for a paltry consideration of Rs 12 lakh.
"In this case, the complainant alleged that the four armed robbers coerced him into selling his property to James D'Souza, warning him of dire consequences if he refused. The complaint was filed, but to everyone's surprise, the police did not find any evidence," sources said.
The closure of this case has been challenged before the local court.
"It’s shocking that James D'Souza has brazenly and repeatedly committed these alleged crimes while he is out on bail in a case of raping a Russian girl in 2016. Till date despite all these incidents there has been no steps taken by the police to cancel his bail," sources said.
