Photo caption
Colva panch Calvert Gonsalves with his lawyer Adv Rajiv Gomes making his appearance in the court on Monday noon. Santosh Mirajkar
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Photo caption
Adv Aires Rodrigues with complainant Francisco Cardozo leaving the court building on Monday morning. Santosh Mirajkar
Calvert hoodwinks
cops, surrenders
before judge, gets bail
......
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Drama unfolded in the Margao lower court building on Monday before the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao granted bail to Colva panch Calvert Gonsalves, who was wanted by the police for offences under the Prevention of Atrocities Act.
Events began to unfold in the morning when Adv Aires Rodrigues accompanied by complainant and Colva panch Francisco Cardozo appeared before JMFC V Shivolkar for hearing on the Calvert’s bail. Around the same time, a posse of policemen was seen outside the court, apparently to lay their hands on Calvert, who was wanted in connection with the case since the last fortnight. Calvert, however, was conspicuous by his absence and was not seen anywhere near the Court building, but his lawyer, Adv Rajiv Gomes appeared before Judge Shivolkar and moved an application withdrawing the surrender cum bail application.
Following this development, Adv Aires, complainant Cardozo and a couple of activists left the court room, without realizing that Calvert along with lawyer Adv Gomes would soon make an appearance before the court later around noon.
In fact, Adv Gomes with Calvert in tow walked into the court building around noon and moved a bail application, which was kept for hearing in the afternoon session. Realization also dawned on the police that they cannot lay their hands on Calvert since he has surrendered before Judge Reina Fernandes and his bail plea was posted for hearing in the afternoon session.
After arguments advanced by both sides, Judge Reina Fernandes granted bail to Calvert on a bond of Rs 10,000 with one surety in the like amount. Amongst other conditions, Calvert was directed to report to the Investigating Officer, DySP Dinraj Govekar for three days.
Incidentally, Calvert had last month withdrawn the anticipatory bail application filed before the South Goa Sessions Court in order to file the surrender-cum-bail plea before the Judicial Magistrate First Class.
Complainant and Colva panch Francisco Cardozo filed a complaint at the Colva police station alleging that Calvert, at a panchayat meeting on August 29, made a casteist remark and threatened him.
The police later registered case against Calvert under Section 3 (X) of SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 and Section 504 of IPC. In terms of the provisions of the SC/ST Act, the investigation was later transferred to Margao Sub-Divisional Police Officer Dinraj Govekar.
