Assagao demolition case main accused Pooja Sharma arrives for interrogation at Crime Branch in Ribandar.
PANAJI
A growing pattern is raising serious concerns over the functioning of the Crime Branch (CB), with a string of high-profile and sensational cases being handed over for “in-depth” and “sensitive” investigation, only to subsequently lose momentum or fade into obscurity.
The latest in the list is the Curchorem sex racket case, which, like several others before it, was transferred amid much public attention and expectations of swift justice.
Now with this, a disquieting pattern has taken hold: cases that arrive at the Crime Branch with urgency and public scrutiny allegedly often lose pace, inquiries extend infinitely, albeit not in all cases; and in some instances, chargesheets exclude those once identified as accused. Some of such cases, when examined together by The Goan, revealed a pattern that is difficult to ignore.
Siddhi Naik: Unanswered death, unfinished probe
In August 2021, the body of 19-year-old Siddhi Naik was found on Calangute beach, a day after she was reported missing by her family. The circumstances -- a young woman, semi-clad, found by the shoreline -- triggered immediate public concern.
The initial post-mortem pointed to drowning, ruling out sexual assault. But the family pushed back, questioning the findings and demanding a deeper probe. By December that year, a murder case was registered. The case was subsequently handed to the Crime Branch, raising expectations that unanswered questions would finally be addressed. Four and a half years later, those expectations remain unmet. No arrests have been made. Forensic analyses are still awaited, with little clarity on whether efforts to expedite them are ongoing.
In 2022, the CB was reportedly prepared to file a closure report citing lack of evidence of murder, but objections from the family stalled that move. The State government has declined to transfer the case to the CBI, maintaining that the Goa police are equipped to investigate it. In the meantime, the case has come to rest in a familiar limbo — active on paper, but without visible progress.
Edberg Pereira: assault, outrage, and slow probe
When 37-year-old Edberg Pereira was allegedly assaulted inside the Margao Town Police Station in October 2025, the reaction from the family and general public was swift and angry. The delay in filing the FIR -- eight days after the incident -- drew sharp criticism. So did the fact that the case initially remained with the same police station whose personnel were under the radar.
Under mounting pressure, the investigation was transferred to the Crime Branch in early November. Since then, the probe moved but carefully, and to some, cautiously. The CB had then stated that they identified two inmates lodged in the same lock-up as key eyewitnesses and sought court permission to record their statements. CCTV footage was obtained. Statements of police personnel, including suspended PSI Nilesh Shirvoikar, were recorded.
Medical records confirmed that Pereira suffered a serious head injury, underwent two brain surgeries and was under prolonged ICU care. Despite the gravity of the allegations, the suspended PSI has not been arrested, with sources in the headquarters arguing that arrest is not mandatory when the accused is cooperating and unlikely to evade the law.
Now, months later, sources in the prosecution department stated that the investigation is said to be “almost complete,” with the file sent to them for legal opinion and a chargesheet expected.
Januz Gonsalves: A shocking error with a quiet close
Few cases have exposed systemic lapses as starkly as that of Januz Gonsalves. In November 2018, the 24-year-old footballer’s grieving family reached the Goa Medical College mortuary to claim his body, only to be told it was gone -- mistakenly cremated with unclaimed corpses.
The revelation triggered shock and outrage. Three hospital staff members were suspended. The Health Minister issued a public apology while the political demands for accountability followed. The case was handed over to the Crime Branch, with assurances of a thorough and professional investigation. But beyond the initial action, little has entered the public domain about its final outcome. Sources said an “A” final report was filed, quietly, indicating that while the crime was confirmed to have occurred, no evidence could be found to identify or charge any accused.
Assagao demolition: The mastermind who vanished from the chargesheet
In what could prove a telling addition to this pattern, the high-profile Assagao house demolition case took a turn that raised fresh questions about the trajectory of Crime Branch probes. The case, which triggered the transfer of former Director General of Police Jaspal Singh and the suspension of three police officers, including a Police Inspector (now reinstated), culminated in a 304-page chargesheet filed by the Special Investigation Team of Crime Branch.
But the document surprisingly made no mention of Pooja Sharma, who was earlier described as the “mastermind” by the very investigation team. The chargesheet named 13 accused, while Sharma, identified as the owner of the plot and the partially demolished structure, and Pradeep Rana, the JCB operator who was among the first to be arrested, were absent from the list.
The omission stood in contrast to the SIT’s own submissions in court in July 2024, when it opposed Sharma’s anticipatory bail plea. At the time, the SIT alleged she had orchestrated a planned eviction of the Agarwadekar family, deploying bouncers and machinery to demolish the structure in broad daylight, and raised concerns about the funds used.
The team had also described the offence as serious, saying it had instilled fear in the local community and disrupted public order. Sharma was questioned extensively during the probe. Yet, sources indicated that the SIT did not find sufficient evidence to charge her.
When questions go beyond one case
The Crime Branch has remained the state’s premier investigative arm but as more cases accumulate, the question is no longer about individual investigations.
When the Curchorem sex scandal was transferred to the Crime Branch, Director General of Police Alok Kumar described it as necessary given the “sensitivity” of the allegations and the need for a focused, in-depth probe. The case, he was quoted as saying, demanded careful handling to ensure both a thorough investigation and the protection of victims’ identities.
“There should be no doubt in the minds of the people regarding the probe,” he had said while reassuring the public that the process would be fair and credible.
