Team Goemkarponn
BICHOLIM: More than two weeks after the electrocution death of a 20-year-old ITI Electrical student, Bicholim Police have registered a criminal case against a lineman and a house owner for allegedly causing the student’s death through negligent handling of hazardous electrical work.
The FIR was registered on July 9 following a complaint filed by Rajesh Prabhakar Naik, father of the deceased Akshat Rajesh Naik, a resident of Lamgao, Bicholim.
According to the police, Akshat, who was pursuing an ITI course in Electrical and was keen to gain practical experience, had been engaged on June 26 by accused Kedar Krishna Mandrekar (33), a lineman/wireman, to assist in electrical installation work at a newly constructed first floor of a house in Harijanwada, Maulinguem, owned by accused Sameer Ramnath Maulingkar.
Police alleged that Mandrekar engaged Akshat despite knowing that he was not qualified to assist in such hazardous work. During testing of the newly installed electrical wiring by temporarily extending electricity supply from the ground-floor connection, even though the first floor had no authorised electricity connection, Akshat allegedly suffered a severe electric shock and collapsed.
He was rushed to the Community Health Centre, Bicholim, where doctors declared him dead. The post-mortem examination concluded that the cause of death was pulmonary and cerebral oedema due to electrocution.
Police said that during the inquiry conducted under U.D. No. 46/2026, it was revealed that Mandrekar had undertaken the electrical installation work, engaged the deceased for assistance and carried out testing of the wiring. The house owner allegedly permitted the work to be carried out without ensuring adequate safety measures and despite knowing that the electrical work was being undertaken by an unqualified person.
Based on the findings, Bicholim Police have registered an offence under Section 106(1) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, against both accused for allegedly causing death by negligent acts.
Police have issued notices under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to both accused persons. Further investigation is being carried out by PSI Viraj Dhauskar of Bicholim Police Station.
