the goan I network
PONDA
The Additional District and Session Court at Ponda on Saturday dismissed both anticipatory bail pleas filed by Dhanajay Bhave, accused in two cases of outraging the modesty of women. Police is now on the lookout for the absconding priest.
Public Prosecutor Satyavan Raut Desai told The Goan that the court had rejected both pleas of the accused. “With this order, his interim bail also legally gets cancelled. Hence, the police are free to take action,” Desai said.
The last hearing had taken place on July 27 and the judge pronounced the order on Saturday after rejecting both applications.
Dhanajay Bhave, the suspended priest earlier attached to Mangueshi temple, who is accused of outraging the modesty of two women, has been absconding since the FIR was registered against him.
Bhave had filed the first anticipatory bail petition following an FIR against him on charges of outraging the modesty of a woman pursuing medical studies in the US.
Later, another victim, who is also based in Mumbai, had filed a complaint against Bhave on similar charges. He has sought anticipatory bail in second case too.
When contacted, South Goa Superintendent of Police Arvind Gawas told The Goan that police are on the lookout for the accused person.
“Since both of his anticipatory bail pleas have been rejected and he is absconding, we are in search of him,” said SP Gawas.
Asked if a lookout notice would be issued to nab the accused, Gawas replied: “We will search for him. Let us wait for two to three more days.”
Meanwhile, Ponda Police Inspector Harish Madkaikar and another police officer investigating this case have gone on leave. The temporary charge of the police station has been given to Collem Police Inspector Nilesh Dhaimodkar.
