PANAJI
Nirupadi Kadaka, co-accused in the murder of Kamaxi Uddapnov, will face a murder trial as the Sessions Court has dismissed his plea to be discharged from the offence registered in 2023.
The case has Prakash Chunchwad, Nirupadi's friend and Kamaxi’s boyfriend as the prime accused. It pertains to the cold-blooded murder of 30-year-old Kamaxi, allegedly involving both the accused. Prakash is charged with killing her while Nirupadi allegedly helped him to dispose of the body at Amboli Ghat in Maharashtra instead of alerting the police.
Porvorim police registered an FIR under Sections 302 (murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence) read with 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code against both followed by a charge sheet.
During the hearing on Nirupadi's application, the prosecution submitted to the Court that the Porvorim police had evidence indicating Nirupadi's involvement in the crime. The prosecution argued that failure to report to the police raises strong suspicions of his collusion alongside Prakash.
“The material on record indicates that the body was disposed of in the presence of Nirupadi. If he was not involved in the disposal of the body, he ought to have reported the matter to the police on his arrival back to Goa. As he did not do so, there is a strong suspicion that he was involved along with Prakash in the disposal of the body,” the prosecution argued during the hearing of the application.
Nirupadi’s lawyer, however, submitted that though he may have accompanied Prakash, he was not aware that there was a dead body in the car as Prakash concealed the information.
Judge Sherin Paul, after reviewing the charge sheet, noted the statement of Kasturi Kadakal, Nirupadi's mother, who recounted that on August 30, 2023, around 8 pm her son informed her of his plans to accompany his friend Prakash.
She further stated that since Nirupadi did not return for dinner, she contacted him to inquire about his whereabouts to which he informed her that he was with Prakash at a hotel, having dinner, and returned home around 11:30 pm. On September 1, 2023, she learned that Prakash had murdered his girlfriend and that her son had been taken by Prakash to dispose of the body at Amboli Ghat.
“… it cannot be said that there is no prima facie case against Nirupadi for the offences for which he is charge-sheeted. Charge is to be framed against him for the offence,” reads the order.
