THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
A local court in Mapusa on Tuesday heard arguments on a bail application filed by the accused in the MLA sextortion case.
During the hearing, a voter from the Aldona constituency filed an intervention application opposing the bail plea.
The intervention was met with objections from both the prosecution and the defense counsel.
They argued that the petitioner lacked locus standi, claiming he had no direct connection to the case and was a "stranger" to the matter.
Advocate Vinayak Porob, representing the Aldona voter, defended the intervention, stating that his client is a voter who respects his MLA.
Porob argued that the alleged morphed video at the centre of the case had deeply hurt his client's sentiments, as well as those of other voters in the constituency, and had tarnished reputations.
The intervention, he said, was filed to uncover the truth about whether the video is authentic or fabricated.
Advocate Kapil Kerkar, appearing for the accused, countered the arguments by citing various court rulings to assert that the intervener had no standing in the matter.
After hearing arguments from all sides, the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court scheduled Wednesday to deliver its order on the intervention application.
The court is expected to address the bail application after disposing of the intervention plea.
