Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The investigation into the assault on social activist Rama Kankonkar has slowed after Panaji Police sought additional time from the Special Court at Merces, stating that they must first verify Kankonkar’s caste certificate before completing the probe. The request has drawn fresh questions from the victim, who has publicly urged the police to apply the same level of scrutiny to the two politicians he named soon after the attack.
Kankonkar, who continues to recover from his injuries, said he cooperated with every requirement placed before him—answering all questions and submitting every document—when police insisted on verifying his caste two months ago before invoking the Atrocities Act.
“My caste was verified quickly because the law required it. I only ask that the same seriousness be shown towards the powerful people I raised doubts about,” he said.
“I lived through that fear and pain. I just want the same verification for them that was demanded of me.”
Meanwhile, the bail application of the main accused, Zenito Cardozo, has been postponed to November 26, prolonging proceedings in what has become one of Goa’s most closely followed criminal cases. Cardozo, labelled by police as a repeat offender, is one of eight men charged with attacking Kankonkar. He filed his bail plea on November 18, a day after investigators submitted their chargesheet. His and two others’ judicial custody had earlier been extended by fourteen days on October 31.
The assault, which occurred in Merces earlier this month, stemmed from a local dispute but soon gained statewide attention due to Kankonkar’s civic activism and Cardozo’s criminal background. All accused were arrested shortly after the incident, prompting public calls for stern action.
Investigators have opposed bail, arguing that the accusations are serious and releasing the accused could endanger witnesses or influence the inquiry. They maintain that the possibility of a wider conspiracy is still being examined. Defence lawyers claim the allegations are exaggerated and that the accused have cooperated with police.
Police say verifying Kankonkar’s caste certificate is crucial to determine whether the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act applies. However, the absence of parallel verification into the two politicians mentioned by the victim has triggered concerns about uneven investigative standards.
The court is expected to hear full arguments when the bail hearing resumes on November 26. What the court decides next may not only influence the direction of the criminal case but also shape public confidence in whether scrutiny extends equally to ordinary citizens and powerful individuals alike.
