MARGAO
The South Goa Sessions Court has granted anticipatory bail to Patrocina Fernandes in connection with the death of her daughter-in-law at Nuvem.
While granting the anticipatory bail application, Additional Sessions Judge Pooja Kavlekar has ordered the release of Patrocina in the event of her arrest upon furnishing personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one local surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of investigation officer of the Maina Curtorim police station, besides other conditions.
She has been told to attend the Maina Curtorim Police Station as and when called by the investigating
Officer and not to interfere with the prosecution witnesses or threaten, intimidate or induce them in any manner.
She has been told to co-operate with investigation and not tamper with evidence, with a further condition not to leave the country without prior permission of the Court until the case is finally
disposed off. She has been further directed to deposit her passport if any before this Court.
While granting the anticipatory bail, Judge Kavlekar observed “In the instant case there is dying declaration on record whereby deceased has stated before the Magistrate that she set fire to herself. No doubt, there is a statement of the mother of the deceased that she called her mother just before dying and stated that she is being set ablaze (ti maka lacoita). However, veracity of the statement will have to be checked vis-Ã -vis the dying declaration”.
The Judge further observed that the police say does not give any reason as to how granting of anticipatory bail to the applicant will affect the investigation other than the fact that the offence is serious.
“Seriousness of the offence is mitigated by the fact that the applicant is a senior citizen and a lady and as per record a notice under section 41-A was issued to her and she has co-operated with the investigation”, the Judge observed.
