Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: AAP Goa has said that the High Court has imposed strict conditions while granting interim relief to Malcolm Pereira, accused in the alleged assault case involving Chinchinim-Deussua Sarpanch Gerson Gomes.
AAP Goa President Valmiki Naik, Senior Vice President Sandesh Teleikar-Dessai and other party leaders addressed the media and highlighted the conditions imposed by the High Court on Pereira.
According to AAP, Pereira has been directed not to contact Gerson Gomes or his family, to stay away from Chinchinim, and not to leave Goa without informing the Investigating Officer.
Naik also read out portions of the lower court’s order rejecting Pereira’s anticipatory bail application, highlighting the court’s observations regarding the allegations and the investigation.
As cited by Naik, the lower court observed that the applicant had allegedly demonstrated “complete disregard for the law” and that the material collected during the investigation prima facie indicated that he had assaulted the complainant while the latter was discharging his public functions as a Sarpanch.
The order, as read out by Naik, further stated that the alleged acts amounted to an attempt to intimidate or undermine the authority of an elected grassroots institution, which forms part of the democratic governance structure.
Naik also highlighted the lower court’s observation that it had not found reasons recorded by the police for not arresting the applicant as required under the relevant provisions of law.
Calling the observation a strong comment on the conduct of the police, Naik said the lower court had also expressed concerns about the possibility of the accused allegedly threatening or influencing witnesses if granted anticipatory bail.
According to the portions of the order cited by Naik, the court observed that, considering the nature of the offence and the applicant’s past conduct, there was a possibility of the applicant threatening witnesses, manipulating evidence or misusing the liberty granted under anticipatory bail.
The court had also observed that the possibility of the applicant allegedly repeating such offences could not be ruled out, Naik said.
AAP leaders said the court’s observations and the conditions imposed on the interim relief raised serious questions about the handling of the case and the conduct of the police.
The case concerns the alleged assault of Gerson Gomes at the Chinchinim-Deussua village panchayat office. Further legal proceedings in the matter are pending.
