PANAJI
The Sessions Court refused to grant interim relief to Pooja Sharma, the main accused in the Assagao house demolition case while allowing her lawyer to seek an adjournment in the matter.
During the hearing on her anticipatory bail on Wednesday, Sharma’s lawyer, Adv Surendra Desai stated she fears that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Crime Branch will arrest her.
“Give us another date to appear for questioning. If she appears, she may be arrested,” he said, blaming media hype for the case.
However, the Court refused to grant interim relief noting that once a notice under section 41-A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) is issued, protection is implied. With the SIT submitting their reply to the application during the hearing, Desai sought time to file a rejoinder which was granted by the Court. The matter has been postponed to July 5.
Speaking to the media thereafter, Desai stated that Sharma is the owner of the now-controversial property, which she purchased for Rs 1.68 crore approx. “She is the owner of the property… My client (Sharma) is being unnecessarily dragged into the case; she is not involved at all. Currently, she is in Mumbai,” the lawyer said.
In her six-page application filed on July 1, Sharma, described herself as a ‘peace-loving and law-abiding citizen’ while vehemently denying all allegations against her. Explaining that she is not involved in the matter, she revealed about purchasing the 600 sq mtr property from previous owners Chris Pinto and Emerciana Pinto through a sale deed on August 5, 2023, which was registered with the Bardez Mamlatdar on September 8, 2023.
