Home Dept is yet to appoint another SPP or direct regular APP to appear for State
MARGAO
Repeated absence of the special public prosecutor (SPP) coupled with the failure to give the brief to the regular Public Prosecutor in the Ticketgate has raised many an eyebrow over the government’s intention in pursuing the alleged fake cricket ticket case that had rocked the State around two decades ago on April 6, 2001.
When Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao, Carlo Santana Da Silva called up the matter for hearing on Friday, the Special Public Prosecutor was once again conspicuous by his absence. Take note, since Special Public Prosecutor, city-based lawyer, Adv Vinay Borkar had withdrawn himself from the case after writing a letter to the government, the Home Department has neither made any replacement nor has the government directed the regular Assistant Public Prosecutor to appear for the State in the case.
Incidentally, Judge Carlo was scheduled to take the statement of the nine accused persons under Section 313 of the CrPC on Friday, but has posted the matter for next hearing since the statements were not ready.
What’s significant to note is that the government is yet to appoint a special public prosecutor or give the Ticketgate brief to a regular public prosecutor despite the fact that Judge Carlo has already closed the evidence of the prosecution at the hearing dated April 16 on the grounds that no steps have been taken by the prosecution to prosecute the matter.
Take note, the prosecution is yet to examine crucial witnesses in the case, including the statement of the investigation officer, and bring evidence on record, including the tickets printed in Tamil Nadu.
On April 16, the outgoing Special Public Prosecutor, Adv Vinay Borkar had submitted before the JMFC that he had already written a letter to the government on his decision to withdraw his appearance from the case. In fact, he had further submitted that he no longer has any instructions from the State and therefore is not in a position to take any steps in the matter.
Meanwhile, former Goa Cricket Association (GCA) chief Dayanand Narvekar, then GCA Secretary Vinod Phadke and a couple of other accused persons made their presence before the court of JMFC Carlo Da Silva.
The Margao police had charged former Goa Cricket Association (GCA) chief Dayanand Narvekar and GCA officials Ramshankar Das and Vinod Phadke for allegedly entering into a criminal conspiracy with the ticket contractor, Chinmay Fallari for the sale of tickets by manipulation in the tender for a consideration of Rs 68 lakh.
The police further charged the trio for intentionally placing orders for 29,000 tickets and complimentary passes before Hitech print system, Hyderabad beyond the capacity of the stadium, which was put at 27,300 spectators.
In the execution of the criminal conspiracy, excess tickets numbering 1650 worth Rs 9.37 lakh were allegedly unauthorisedly diverted to accused Eknath Naik, the brother-in-law of Dayanand Narvekar for sale. The police alleged that Eknath sold the tickets for higher premium to the general public and cheated them.
The police further charged the trio for allegedly printing 700 fake complimentary tickets from Classical computers Panaji and illegally sold the tickets to the general public in the execution of the criminal conspiracy.
