MARGAO
Trial in the criminal cases pending against politicians, including Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho, Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate and MLA wife, has been transferred to the North Goa Sessions Court headed by Principal Sessions Judge Irshad Agha.
Mauvin is facing trial in the alleged power scam rebate case, while Atanasio Monserrate is an accused in the alleged rape of a minor girl. That’s not all. The husband-wife duo of Atanasio and Jennifer are facing trial along with 35 other accused in the 2008 Panaji police station attack case.
When the three cases came up for hearing before newly-posted South Goa Sessions Judge Sherin Paul, it was evident that the matters will no longer be heard in the Court on the plea that the High Court had constituted the designated court headed by Irshad Agha to try the criminal cases against the politicians, including MPs and MLAs.
In fact, Judge Sherin Paul gave dates to the prosecution and defence to appear before Special Judge, Irshad Agha, who is the Principal District and Sessions Judge, North Goa.
By noon, it was evident that all the criminal cases pending trial at the South Goa Sessions Court will be transferred to the North Goa Sessions Court headed by Judge Irshad Agha. In fact, when the Panaji police station attack case came up for hearing before Judge Sherin Paul in the afternoon session, this case too was transferred to the Special Judge Irshad Agha by the court.
Lawyers and litigants had literally kept their fingers crossed whether the criminal cases against the politicians will be tried at the South Goa Sessions Court after the transfer of Sessions Judge Irshad Agha to North Goa as the Principal and Sessions Court Judge, North Goa.
For, many in the know pointed out that the trial against the politicians was conducted in the South Goa Sessions Court, it was primarily because Judge Irshad Agha, who is appointed the Special judge by the High Court to try criminal cases against politicians are presiding over the court.
The High Court had in January last issued a circular appointing Judge Irshad Agha as the Special Judge to try criminal cases against the politicians. Based on the High Court order, Judge Agha has set in motion the process to take the trial forward by conducting weekly hearings of the matters from February 2023.
In fact, the prosecution has examined a number of witnesses in support of their case in all the three matters. Take the power rebate scam case. Though many a witness could not be traced since they had either left the State or have changed their address, a good number of prosecution witnesses have been examined by the court.
As far as the Panaji police station attack case is concerned, the prosecution has so far examined two witnesses including the key witness, then Panaji PI and now SDPO, Panaji Sudesh Naik. The examination and cross examination of prosecution witness, then DySP Mohan Naik was partly completed.
The Panaji police station attack case will come up for hearing before Judge Agha for trial evidence on July 5, at 2.30 pm.
Similarly, the minor girl rape case will come up for hearing before Judge Irshad Agha, Principal District Judge, North Goa, Panaji, for arguments on July 1, at 10 am.
2 more criminal cases likely to be transferred from South Goa court
MARGAO: While the three cases involving Ministers Mauvin Godinho and Atanasio Monserrate will now be tried by North Goa Principal District and Sessions Judge, Irshad Agha, two other criminal cases are expected to be transferred for trial before Agha.
Apart from the three cases, including the power rebate scam case, minor girl rape case and the Panaji police station attack case, the mining case allegedly involving former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat initiated by the SIT was also tried at the South Goa Sessions Court when Judge Irshad Agha was presiding over the court.
Sources in the know say that the mining case against Digambar Kamat and others is expected to be transferred to North Goa Sessions Court for trial.
Sources further said another criminal case involving a former MLA and Minister in respect of ED case was sent to the South Goa Sessions Court around two months ago. The case is now expected to be sent to the North Goa Session Court for trial.
