Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has quashed the FIR and subsequent chargesheet filed against MLA Sankalp Amonkar in connection with the 2021 Melauli protest, ruling that the continuation of criminal proceedings would amount to an abuse of legal process.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Ashish Chavan held that the case registered at Valpoi Police Station — later transferred to the Crime Branch — lacked sufficient grounds for prosecution. The court also set aside the related criminal proceedings pending before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Valpoi.
The judges noted that Amonkar’s case stood on identical footing with that of co-accused Tukaram Parab and Rohan Kalangutkar, whose cases had already been quashed by the High Court in March 2025. In that earlier ruling, the Bench had observed that the allegations, even if accepted as true, did not constitute offences under sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to unlawful assembly, rioting, or conspiracy.
The FIR had accused Amonkar and others of leading a protest march at Melauli, Sattari, against a proposed government project, alleging that demonstrators had blocked a road near Valpoi Police Station and shouted slogans against the authorities.
Defense lawyers had countered that there was no evidence showing that the protesters were armed, caused damage to property, or injured any police personnel during the agitation.
With this order, the High Court has brought an end to all criminal proceedings against Amonkar arising out of the Melauli protest episode.
