Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Panaji Police have registered a criminal case against the director of a private internet service provider for allegedly installing internet cables and related infrastructure on electricity poles without permission from the Electricity Department, posing a potential threat to public safety.
The case was registered on March 13, 2026 at 7:55 pm at Panaji Police Station under Crime No. 35/2026, based on a complaint filed by Kashinath Shetye, Executive Engineer XV and Civil Nodal Officer of the Land Acquisition Cell, Electricity Department, Patto Plaza, Panaji.
According to the complaint, prior to January 17, 2026, within the jurisdiction of Panaji town, Nandakumar Rajaram Mohite, Director of M/s Digital Network Associated Pvt Ltd, along with his agents and employees, allegedly conspired and illegally installed internet cables and other infrastructure on electricity poles belonging to the Electricity Department.
Police said the installations were allegedly carried out without obtaining valid permission, conducting a survey, or securing a stability certificate from the Electricity Department or any other competent authority. The act reportedly involved criminal trespass on electricity infrastructure and posed a potential risk to electricity linemen, pedestrians, vehicle drivers and the general public.
The complaint further states that the accused failed to comply with Public Notice No. E-152/24-25/1412 dated February 3, 2025, which directed the removal of internet and optical fibre cables from electricity poles.
Authorities have also alleged that false information was provided to obtain a licence, and that the required fees were not paid to the Electricity Department, allegedly resulting in a loss worth crores of rupees to the government exchequer.
The offence has been registered under Sections 329, 324, 326, 223, 212, 125, 285, 290, 292 and 61 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Further investigation is being carried out by PSI Manjunath Naik of Panaji Police Station.
