PANAJI
In a major legal blow to AAP Goa President Amit Palekar, the Additional Sessions Court in Panaji has cancelled his bail in the Banastarim fatal accident case.
The cancellation comes after the Crime Branch (CB) applied to the Court arguing that Palekar had violated the conditions of his bail by traveling abroad on four separate occasions.
Palekar, charged with destroying the evidence, misleading investigation and harbouring the real offender, was granted bail last year. With the present order, his re-arrest is likely.
During the hearing last Friday, Advocate Nitin Sardesai, representing Palekar contended that the allegations were politically motivated, pointing out that Palekar had been critical of the police in the past, which could have led to his current legal troubles.
Sardesai further stated that Palekar obtained the necessary court permissions for his travels and that the bail order only required court approval for leaving India, without specifying countries.
Palekar, along with businessman Shripad Sinai Sawardekar, who was allegedly intoxicated and driving recklessly at the time of the incident, and dummy driver Ganesh Lamani are the three accused in the fatal accident that occurred on August 6, 2023. The Crime Branch is yet to file a chargesheet in the case.
