Team Goemkarponn
Mapusa: The counsel representing property owner Surinder Kumar Khosla on Monday filed an application before the Mapusa court requesting that the proclamation proceedings against his client be linked with the Birch by Romeo Lane fire case.
Police from Anjuna have already submitted a chargesheet in the fire incident, naming 13 accused, including Khosla, who owns the property where the Birch by Romeo Lane club operated.
During the hearing, Khosla’s lawyer, Sebastian Vales, urged the court to club the proclamation matter with the chargesheet case, arguing that both issues are closely connected and are being handled by the same court. He requested that the court consider hearing the chargesheet proceedings alongside the criminal revision application that challenges the proclamation notice issued to his client.
After hearing the submission, the court directed the prosecution to submit its response to the application and adjourned the matter to April 7.
Speaking to the media later, Vales said the proclamation proceedings and the case arising from the police chargesheet are interrelated, making it appropriate for both matters to be heard together. He also informed that additional time has been sought to file a rejoinder addressing the contents of the police submission.
Vales further stated that during the hearing, the public prosecutor informed the court that a technical lapse had occurred in issuing the proclamation notice to Khosla. According to him, the mandatory 30-day period required before declaring an accused absconding had not been properly followed.
Earlier, Vales had challenged the proclamation notice issued against his client, which had been pasted on the door of Khosla’s residence. At a previous hearing, he had told the court that the notice came as a surprise since his client had been cooperating with the investigation and participating in the proceedings initiated by the police.
Police had earlier served Khosla with a notice under Section 35(3), and his response was submitted through his legal counsel.
