Team Goemkarponn
BICHOLIM: In a major development linked to the ongoing controversy surrounding the Lodha project at Sarvan village, the Goa Police registered a criminal case against 11 persons and others for allegedly forming an unlawful assembly, wrongfully confining, intimidating and obstructing the Acting Sarpanch inside the Karapur-Sarvan Village Panchayat office.
According to police, Bicholim Police Station registered Crime No. 61/2026 under Sections 189(2), 191(2), 127(2), 132 read with 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on May 12 at around 10.55 pm.
The complaint states that on May 12, from around 11 am till the end of a meeting held in the chamber of the Panchayat Secretary of Karapur-Sarvan Village Panchayat, a group of aggrieved villagers allegedly confronted the complainant over the proposed issuance of a show-cause notice to the Lodha project.
Police named the accused as Siddhesh Jana Tari, Ujwala Kashinath Kavlekar, Neeta Sudesh Morajkar, Manjita Manohar Chandelkar, Sanjivani Sarvesh Gaonkar, Chitra Nansekar, Mina Mohandas Ghadi, Pritesh Salgaonkar, Abdul Rahim Mulla, Savlo Kavlekar and Reema Pramod Gaonkar, all residents of the Karapur-Sarvan Panchayat jurisdiction.
As per the complaint, the accused persons allegedly formed an unlawful assembly inside the Panchayat office chamber and aggressively charged towards the complainant. They are further accused of wrongfully confining her inside the office premises and allegedly pressuring her either to sign the show-cause notice against the Lodha project or resign from the posts of Acting Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch.
The complainant alleged that despite repeatedly informing the group that she had no independent authority to sign the notice and would seek legal guidance from the Deputy Director of Panchayat before taking action, the accused persons allegedly continued restraining and obstructing her from performing official duties.
Police further stated that Siddhesh Jana Tari and Abdul Rahim Mulla were allegedly seen instigating the unlawful assembly during the incident.
The complaint also alleged that the accused criminally intimidated the Acting Sarpanch by creating an atmosphere of fear inside the Panchayat office, thereby disrupting the functioning of the public office and causing mental harassment.
Further investigation is being carried out by PSI Viraj Dhauskar of Bicholim Police Station.
