Notice issued to Cardozo; Sessions Court had cited lack of direct evidence in Kankonkar case
PANAJI
Nearly three months after the North Sessions Court granted bail to accused Zenito Cardozo in the activist Rama Kankonkar attempt-to-murder case, the State has approached the High Court of Bombay at Goa challenging the order.
The High Court has issued notice to Cardozo and posted the matter for hearing on March 12.
On December 6, 2025, the North Goa Principal District and Sessions Court granted conditional bail to Cardozo, observing that he was not present at the scene of the crime at Caranzalem and that his alleged involvement was based solely on the confessional statement of a co-accused.
“...The accused No. 8 (Cardozo) was not seen at the spot of the incident. The role of accused no. 8 is found in the present case on the basis of a confessional statement. Since the confessional statement of the co-accused cannot be considered at the time of deciding an application for bail, the same can be considered in favour of the accused no. 8,” the Sessions Court had said in its order.
The court reiterated that a confessional statement of a co-accused cannot be relied upon while deciding a bail application. It clarified that such material may be examined at the stage of framing of charges and, if required, during the course of trial.
During the bail hearing, the prosecution opposed the plea, citing objections raised by the victim and argued that Cardozo was a habitual offender involved in criminal activities over the past 20 years. Police also claimed that he headed one of the largest organised gangs, allegedly comprising hundreds of members.
In November 2025, the Panaji police filed a chargesheet against eight accused, including Cardozo, for offences of attempted murder and other related charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
