MARGAO
Cross examination of former Panaji police station in-charge, PI Sudesh Naik and now DySP, commenced at the South Goa District and Sessions Court on Friday in the 2008 Panaji police station attack case allegedly involving Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate, wife MLA Jennifer and 35 other accused persons.
PI Sudesh, whose lengthy deposition had ended at the last date of hearing, was subjected to a host of questions by senior defence lawyer, Adv Arun Braz De Sa.
The former Panaji police station was questioned over his statement on then Panaji DySP, Serafino Dias and his relationship with the Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate.
PI Sudesh was also questioned why the police preferred to register the FIR in the Panaji police station case only against 37 accused persons, including the Monserrate couple, when the police had claimed that the mob comprised of around 1,500 persons.
The police officer was further questioned whether the police had conducted the identification parade in the case. He was also asked whether there were any changes made in the statements of persons connected with the case.
In his deposition on March 3 last, PI Sudesh Naik had submitted before the South Goa Sessions Court conducting trial in the Panaji police station attack case that the then Taleigao MLA and incumbent Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate was trying to destabilise the Congress-led coalition government by opposing the government projects.
Sudesh Naik, who is now holding the charge of Panaji police sub-division as the DySP, had further told the Court during his deposition that his relations with Monserrate were not good due to the MLA’s interference in the police working.
Sudesh had further submitted to the Court during his deposition on March 3 that Monserrate’s relationship with his predecessor, then Panaji PI Serafino Dias was good.
Further cross examination of PI Sudesh will resume on September 8.
