Team Herald
PANJIM: Adv Aires Rodrigues and Shreya Dhargalkar have settled their criminal cases filed against each other amicably following which the High Court of Bombay at Goa quashed and set aside the criminal proceedings initiated with regard to the FIRs.
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The incident had occurred in November 2017 when the Anjuna police registered a case against Rodrigues for outraging the modesty of a woman through social media post. On the other hand the Old Goa police registered a case against Dhargalkar and three others for having trespassed and attacked Rodrigues in his office at Ribandar.
The investigations were later transferred to the Crime Branch, who charge sheeted them. The charges were accordingly framed against the respective accused in both the cases.
On July 13, 2021, the Mapusa Court convicted Rodrigues for the offences punishable under Section 354 (A) (iv), 509, 201 and 203 of IPC and sentenced him to undergo one year imprisonment. But later Rodrigues challenged the order and the Additional Sessions Court quashed the judgment and remanded the matter back to the JMFC, Mapusa.
In view of the settlement and the compromise arrived at between the parties, the continuation of the investigation or proceedings would not serve any purpose, the Court said.
However, the High Court asked both the parties to deposit costs of Rs 50,000 out of which Rs 25,000 will be deposited in the account of the High Court Bar Association and Rs 25,000 in the account of the Goa State Legal Services Authority.
Adv Arun Bras De Sa argued on behalf of Adv Rodrigues while, Adv Sahil Sardesai represented Dhargalkar and three others.
