PANAJI
The shadows of Goa's chilling past have been wrenched open with the release of Goa Ka Dupatta Killer. Penned by Mukesh Kumar, Senior Crime and Legal Reporter at Prudent Media, this Hindi tome delves into the harrowing saga of the notorious serial killer, Mahanand Naik. The book, an unsparing account of dread and deceit, was unveiled by Pramod Acharya, Editorial Director of Prudent Media, in the presence of Joe Louis, Media Director and Suyash Gaunekar, Editor of Prudent Media.
Goa Ka Dupatta Killer meticulously dissects the investigation into sixteen brutal murders and the labyrinthine legal war waged against Mahanand Naik, the Shiroda native whose terror reign was finally halted by Ponda police in 2009.
In Mukesh Kumar's own words, this narrative serves as a double-edged mirror for law enforcement. On one reflective surface, it highlights the gold standard of police work—the meticulous investigation spearheaded by then-Ponda Inspector C.L. Patil. On the other, it casts a damning light on a catastrophic failure: the casual dismissal of a suspect in 1995. Arrested on the grave suspicion of kidnapping Vasanti Gaude, Mahanand Naik was tragically released due to pressure from a 'Drivers' protest. This fatal leniency, the author contends, allowed a monster to roam free, allegedly claiming thirteen more innocent lives before his final arrest in 2009. Though a shadow of guilt clung to his name across sixteen alleged victims, the scales of justice ultimately settled on only two convictions for Mahanand Naik, one being the grim 1995 murder of Vasanti Gaude.
