MARGAO
In an interesting development, the Special Public Prosecutor representing the State was once again conspicuous by his absence when the Ticketgate case was called out for hearing before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao, on Friday.
The case was called out on Friday before JMFC Shahir Issani as the presiding judge was on leave. The case was later adjourned to June 10 for the purpose of recording the statement of the accused persons.
What was, however, interesting to note is that the Special Public Prosecutor was absent in the court when the matter was called out for hearing on Friday, only raising questions whether the Home department is yet to take a call on whether to engage a special public prosecutor or a regular Assistant Public prosecutor to conduct the prosecution in the case.
In fact, in the absence of the special public prosecutor on two occasions, the JMFC had decided to close the evidence of the prosecution on the plea the prosecution is not serious in taking the case to its logical conclusion.
The unprecedented situation had arisen after the then Special Public Prosecutor, Adv Vinay Borkar had written a letter to the Home department, with a plea to relieve him from conducting the prosecution in the state on behalf of the state. Last year, city-based lawyer, Adv Pritam Moraes, who was assisting the SPP, had also withdrawn from the cases after putting his papers with the Home department.
Former Goa Cricket Association President Dayanand Narvekar and eight others have been charged in the fake cricket ticket case.
