Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to former Goa RSS Chief Subhash Velingkar in the St Francis Xavier case, citing that he is fully cooperating in the investigation.
The single bench disposed of the anticipatory bail plea of Velingkar after it observed that the interrogation in the matter was almost complete and that the applicant appeared before the investigation officer- Bicholim Police, on two occasions, as per the notice served.
Velingkar is facing a case of hurting religious sentiments with his controversial comments on the saint.
“The court cannot assess the merits of the case at this stage; we must only evaluate whether the applicant’s arrest is necessary in the current circumstances,” HC said.
Velingkar has been participating extensively in the investigation, the judge observed, and additional custody is not immediately necessary.
The Bicholim police told the court throughout the proceedings that they had finished questioning Velingkar. The police verified that Velingkar had been before them twice after receiving a notice and gave all the information that was required.
Advocate Pranav Pathak, representing Subhash Velingkar, affirmed that Velingkar had been granted anticipatory bail by the court.
Subhash Velingkar made the preposterous statements at a public meeting against St Francis Xavier at Bicholim.
Thereafter Goa was rocked by huge public protests on the streets of Margao and other places, all over Goa. Due to public pressure finally, the Bicholim police lodged an FIR against Velingkar on October 5th, 2024
The Bicholim police sent three notices to Velingkar calling on him to be present before them. Despite vociferous demands for his arrest, police had also stated that teams were sent but they could not find him.
