PANAJI
Panaji police on Friday moved the Special Court at Merces seeking more time to investigate the assault on activist Rama Kankonkar, stating they now need to verify his caste certificate.
The request comes three days after the investigating team filed a chargesheet against Zenito Cardozo and seven others for attempted murder, wrongful restraint and related offences. Police alleged the accused, seven of whom are history-sheeters, were involved in the September 18 attack outside a restaurant in Caranzalem, where Kankonkar was assaulted and smeared with cow dung.
“We want to authenticate the activist’s caste certificate as part of our continuing investigative requirements. Moreover, a forensic report on the cow dung purportedly used in the assault is still pending,” a police source said, referring to the recent development.
Besides, crucial data from the mobile phone of the prime accused Cardozo is yet to be retrieved.
In the 1371-page chargesheet comprising 49 witnesses and 32 muddemals attached, the police stated that the entire plan was coordinated by Cardozo, who tracked the activist’s movement and communicated via WhatsApp.
“Accused Francis Nadar, during interrogation, told the police team that he and his associates assaulted Kankonkar with cable wires and smeared cow dung on his face, as part of a conspiracy hatched due to a personal grudge and online mockery,” the police said.
Meanwhile, the hearing on Zenito Cardozo’s bail application has been adjourned to November 26.
