PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has rejected the bail plea of Sagar Timbodia, accused of killing his 21-year-old wife in December 2021. Justice Neela Gokhale said the seriousness of the offence outweighed the ground of long incarceration.
Timbodia was arrested by Margao Town Police on 16 December 2021 under Section 302 IPC. The prosecution said the Deputy Collector and SDM, Margao, filed a complaint alleging he suspected his wife of an illicit relationship and assaulted her before strangling her to death.
His lawyer, Advocate Sahil Sardesai, said he had spent over four and a half years in jail, and the trial was slow, with only 9 of 38 witnesses examined and 29 pending. He sought bail on this ground.
Opposing, APP Preetam Talaulikar called the offence heinous, noting the victim died unnaturally within seven years of marriage. The post-mortem showed 40 injuries.
The report stated cause of death was asphyxia due to compression of chest, nose, mouth and neck, with bite marks, bruises and abrasions consistent with kicks and blows. All injuries were ante-mortem, the APP said. The prosecution assured completion of trial within one year.
Justice Gokhale noted the victim was found alone with the accused in an unconscious state, and prima facie evidence linked him to the crime. “The offence is serious. Prima facie material connects the applicant to it. Considering the gravity and punishment, this is not a fit case for bail. Long incarceration alone is not sufficient ground,” the court held, rejecting the plea.
