Team Goemkarponn
MORMUGAO: Less than a year after the Crime Branch made headlines with a record Rs 43-crore cocaine seizure at Mormugao in April 2025, the case has resurfaced after four of the five accused were discharged by the court before the trial began due to lack of evidence.
While the court found prima facie evidence against Accused No. 1 sufficient to frame charges, the discharge of the remaining four raised serious concerns over the quality of the police investigation. South Goa Additional Sessions Judge Ram Prabhudesai noted that the prosecution’s material against Accused Nos. 2 to 5 was either incomplete, irrelevant, or based on inadmissible evidence, including the confession of Accused No. 1.
“The evidence on record does not indicate the specific role of each accused in the alleged offence, nor is there any clear link between them and the contraband seized,” Judge Prabhudesai observed. The court concluded there were no reasonable grounds to believe that Accused Nos. 2 to 5 conspired with Accused No. 1, and no prima facie case existed to justify their trial.
The judge further highlighted that while direct evidence of conspiracy may rarely be available, there must at least be prima facie material showing a connection among the accused. “The prosecution has failed to demonstrate that the accused were aware of the conspiracy or agreed to its objectives,” the judge said.
Judge Prabhudesai also pointed out lapses in the investigation, noting that the investigating officer should have documented WhatsApp chats or taken screenshots as evidence. The Public Prosecutor had admitted that the mobile devices of Accused Nos. 2 and 4 were sent for forensic examination, but there were no CDR records or CCTV footage to indicate travel details or communication for committing the crime.
The court’s observations underscore gaps in the investigation and raise questions about the handling of what was touted as the largest cocaine haul in the state.
