Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Sahitya Akademi recipient Datta Damodar Naik was given permission by the Bombay High Court in Goa on Wednesday to travel to Pune from January 16 to 24 and appear before the investigating officer on January 25 between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
In a decision dated January 13, 2025, the Additional Sessions Court, Margao granted Naik anticipatory bail with a number of restrictions, one of which being that he would not leave the state without the competent court’s prior written consent.
The following day, Naik, who had been charged by the Canacona police on January 4 with offending religious feelings, filed a request for authorization to leave the state before the Additional Sessions Court. However, his application’s hearing was postponed until January 21, which is later than the application’s travel dates.
In order to attend an interview, Naik desired to fly to Pune.
Senior advocate Cleofato Almeida Coutinho, the applicants’ counsel, said during the hearing that Naik would report to the Canacona police station after his trip to Goa and introduce himself to the investigating officer (IO). He would then attend the investigation as needed, upon a call letter from the IO.
Given the urgency of the situation, Naik was given permission by the High Court to go to Pune on January 16 and return to Goa by January 24. He was then allowed to appear before the I.O. on January 25 between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. If the applicant returns sooner than expected, he must show up right away to the IO so that his presence can be noted.