Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Velim MLA Cruz Silva has demanded a detailed status report from Goa Police on the investigation into the case against Subhash Velingkar over his alleged remarks about St Francis Xavier, expressing concern over the possibility of the case being closed without a chargesheet.
Silva said he would closely monitor developments in the investigation and called for transparency from the authorities, particularly with the 2027 Assembly elections approaching. He said any concerns about possible political interference must be addressed through a fair and impartial investigation.
The MLA’s statement follows the withdrawal of Velingkar’s petition seeking to quash FIR No. 100/2024, registered under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The Bombay High Court at Goa, in its order dated October 26, 2026, permitted Velingkar to withdraw the petition while granting him liberty to initiate appropriate legal proceedings in accordance with law. The court did not quash the FIR.
Silva has sought details of the evidence collected, statements recorded, video and audio material reportedly available to investigators, and the further steps required to complete the probe. He has also asked police to clarify whether a chargesheet is being prepared, whether additional evidence remains to be collected and whether any proposal to close the case has been considered.
“If sufficient evidence has been collected, statements have been recorded and crucial video and audio material has been secured, the people deserve to know what further investigation remains pending and why,” Silva said.
He added that the religious significance of St Francis Xavier to Goa’s Catholic community made it important for the matter to be handled sensitively and in accordance with the law.
Silva maintained that the withdrawal of the petition did not bring the investigation to an end and urged Goa Police to provide a clear account of the case’s progress.
He said he would continue to monitor developments and seek accountability to ensure that the investigation reaches its appropriate legal conclusion without political considerations influencing the process.
