Advocates differ on presence of accused
Anjuna dy sarpanch’s order on bail fixed on May 11
the goan I network
MAPUSA
While advocate, Arun Braz representing the alleged accused, Savio Almeida the deputy sarpanch of Anjuna panchayat in the shoot-out case argued in the negative, advocate A V Pavitran representing the complainant, Surendra Govekar said that the accused’s presence was very much necessary.
The advocates were arguing on an anticipatory bail application of the deputy sarpanch in the Additional Sessions Court in Mapusa on Wednesday. Almeida was not present in the court.
“Even Digambar Kamat was not present at his anticipatory bail hearing. These are rare of the rare cases and therefore my client’s presence is not necessary in court,” Braz argued.
Adv Pavitran stoutly defended his contention that the alleged accused should be present in court for the hearing and therefore the court should not consider his application for anticipatory bail.
He also impressed on the court that the alleged accused should not be granted any interim relief, which he had prayed for before the court.
Adv D’Sa said that his client was ready to cooperate with the ongoing investigation and was also ready to surrender his passport.
Countering him, Adv Pavitran said that the alleged accused was not an Indian national.
“Almeida is a Portugal national and the issue is pending before the ministry of external affairs. He has also failed to surrender his passport,” adv Pavitran said.
He further said that police have even failed to locate the alleged accused on the address provided.
“If he’s ready to cooperate where is he for the last eight days?” adv Pavitran countered. Public Prosecutor, Sunita Nagvenkar said that there was an enmity between the alleged accused and the complainant over a hotel issue which was pending before the High Court.
“There is a hint of conspiracy in the case and that is why a shooter was hired,” Nagvenkar said. She further said that the alleged accused went abroad one day prior of the shoot-out incident to show that he was not present in the State.
“He arrived in Goa but failed to intimate the local panchayat about his arrival. Till now his whereabouts is not known,” the PP said.
After hearing the arguments, Judge Vijaya Pol has fixed the order on the anticipatory bail hearing on May 11.
