Court Hearing…
• Zenito Cardozo and seven others are accused of assaulting activist Rama Kankonkar in Merces.
• Police argue that bail may allow interference with witnesses and impact the investigation.
• The defence says the accusations are overstated and the accused have cooperated.
• Verification of Kankonkar’s caste certificate is crucial for determining the applicability of the SC ST Act.
• Court will resume arguments on November 26.
Team Goemkarponn
Panaji
The investigation into the assault on social activist Rama Kankonkar entered a new phase after Panaji police asked the Special Court at Merces for additional time, saying they must verify Kankonkar’s caste certificate before completing the probe. The request comes even as the bail hearing of the main accused, Zenito Cardozo, has been postponed to November 26, extending a case that has drawn widespread attention across Goa.
Cardozo, described by police as a repeat offender, is one of eight men charged in the attack on Kankonkar. He filed his bail application on November 18, a day after investigators submitted the chargesheet. The court had earlier placed him and two others in judicial custody, extending their remand by fourteen days on October 31.
Police say Kankonkar was assaulted in Merces earlier this month during a dispute connected to local issues. The incident escalated into one of the most closely followed cases in recent weeks, largely due to Kankonkar’s long-standing involvement in civic activism and the criminal history attributed to Cardozo. All accused were picked up shortly after the attack, leading to public calls for strict action.
According to investigators, the charges are serious and releasing the accused at this stage could affect the case. They have argued that witnesses may be susceptible to pressure and that the wider conspiracy needs further examination. The defence has maintained that the allegations are exaggerated and that the accused have cooperated fully.
The request to verify Kankonkar’s caste certificate adds another layer to the proceedings, since the outcome could determine the application of provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police say this verification is essential before the investigation can be considered complete.
The court is expected to hear detailed arguments from both sides when the bail matter resumes on November 26, a hearing that may influence the next steps in what has become one of Panaji’s most closely watched criminal cases.
