MARGAO
The South Goa District and Sessions Court on Thursday dismissed the anticipatory bail application filed by a resident of Cavrem-Quepem Sameer Fal Desai in connection with the illegal extraction of laterite stones close to the rock carving site at Pansaimol, Usgalimol, declared by UNESCO as world heritage site.
While dismissing the bail plea, Additional Sessions Judge Vincent D’Silva observed the presence of the applicant is required to obtain the details of the vehicles i.e. the trucks, JCB and motorcycle from RTO, Quepem and Margao involved in the present crime wherein it was revealed that the said vehicles stood registered in the name of the applicant and his family members.
“The applicant has carried out the activity of illegally extracting laterite stones with the help of machinery and JCB machine without having regard to the importance of preserving the rock carving site, which is a historic and ancient monument situated in close proximity from the place of incident, which fact is clearly revealed by the complainant in his inspection report and by other authorities including Forest Department, Department of Archives and Archeology causing loss to the State government,” he said.
Judge Vincent further said the witnesses whose statements were recorded have attributed complicity of the applicant and others to the crime and therefore to unearth the truth and to take the investigation to its logical end, custodial interrogation of the applicant is warranted.
“Pertinently, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has taken the matter as PIL suo moto and the details of the investigation conducted in the case is monitored indicating the seriousness of the present case as the said illegal activity was carried out close to the rock carving site at Pansaimol, Usgalimol, which threatens the pre-historic rock,” the Judge said.
Judge Vincent further observed that the offence committed by the applicant is serious in nature as the illegal activity of extraction of laterite stones was carried out with the help of machinery and by employing labourers without taking any permission from the appropriate authorities close to the rock carving site at Pansaimol-Ugalimol. The investigation is in the preliminary stage and more evidence is yet to be collected at the instance of the applicant and the involvement of any other persons in the commission of the present crime is required to be ascertained, he said, while dismissing the anticipatory bail application.
