Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has strongly criticised Goa Police over the nine-day delay in registering an FIR in connection with the alleged theft and vandalism at the Shree Saibaba Temple in Borim.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar questioned the police response, observing that delays in acting on law-and-order violations appeared to be becoming a pattern.
The Court was informed that the incident took place on July 11, while the FIR was registered only on July 22. The petitioner submitted that the temple had been vandalised, CCTV systems were damaged, and no CCTV footage had been secured or panchanama conducted during the delay.
The Bench questioned the police response, remarking, “This is the trend with the police. Why? During the Shivaji statue issue as well, there was complete lawlessness. And the police sit and watch?”
The Court directed Ponda Police to file an affidavit explaining the delay, detailing the investigation conducted so far and stating its present stage. The investigation records are also to be produced separately.
“There is no need for a preliminary enquiry. These are matters to be acted upon immediately. If there is evidence, just register an FIR and conduct a probe,” the Bench observed.
The FIR names nine persons and around 30 unidentified persons in connection with the alleged unlawful entry, theft and intimidation at the temple.
According to police, the accused allegedly entered the temple premises despite a temporary injunction issued by a competent civil court restraining interference with the management and affairs of the Trust.
They allegedly formed an unlawful assembly, cut locks installed by the Trust, replaced them with new locks and forcibly entered the temple committee’s office.
During the alleged break-in, two DVR hard disks linked to the temple’s CCTV system and two computer hard disks from the temple counter were allegedly stolen.
The matter has been posted for August 25.
