the goan I network
MARGAO
In his order, Sessions Judge B P Deshpande issued directions to release Babu on a bail of Rs 50,000 and one identical surety in the event of his arrest by the Crime Branch. The Judge further directed the Crime Branch to release Babal Kavlekar on a bail of Rs 20,000 with one identical surety if arrested in the case.
The court further told the two brothers to make themselves available for investigations as and when required by the investigating agency. They were directed not to tamper with evidence in the case.
The Leader of the Opposition and brother Babal had knocked the doors of the South Goa Sessions Court a week ago when they were summoned by the Crime Branch for investigations into the gambling case. In fact, the investigating agency had sought police custody of Leader of the Opposition Babu Kavlekar and his brother Babal in the gambling case, claiming that the two brothers have not been cooperating with the investigations, seeking custodial interrogation of the duo on grounds that the case is monitored by the High Court.
The Crime Branch had submitted that the gaming
articles, slips having written numerical numbers (carbon copies), numbering around 9000, calculator, note books, diaries having written numerical numbers on it etc were found in the close residential premises of Babu Kavlekar and that the premises belongs to Babal, indicating that the premises was being used for illegal gambling purpose.
The Leader of the Opposition, however, had argued that he has reason to believe that he is being accused in the offense under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Goa Public gambling Act to silence him and see that largest Congress party in Goa which is now having 16 seats, does not form the government under his leadership.
The Crime Branch wanted the Kavlekar brothers after a raid on the residential house of the Leader of the Opposition by the ACB on September 16 revealed that gaming material was found in a room close to the main bungalow. The Crime Branch took over the investigations into the gambling case four days later on September 20 before summoning the two brothers for investigations.
Incidentally, during arguments, the investigating agency had come under the scanner of Sessions Judge B P Deshpande after he posed a host of questions when the crime branch had claimed that Babu's wife Savitri had handed over the keys of the room where the gaming material was found, even going to the extent of questioning whether there's no cooperation and coordination between the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Crime branch, the two wings of the Goa police.
