MARGAO, OCT 30
The Municipal polls scheduled on Sunday hit the trial of the sensational Margao bomb blast case in the South Goa Sessions court on Saturday.
When the case came up for hearing before Sessions Judge, U V Bakre on Saturday noon, the prosecution witness PI Santosh Desai was found conspicuous by his absence. Realisation later dawned that PI had sought exemption today as he was pre-occupied with the bandobast duties in view of Sunday’s poll.
Incidentally, this is the second time in the last one month than PI Desai has failed to turn up for his examination in the court. Last time round, PI Desai was found absent after he dispatched a sick note to the court.
Incidentally, the four accused – Vinay Talekar, Vijayak Patil, Dhananjay Ashtekar and Dilip Mangaonkar – were also conspicuous by their absence when the case was called for hearing. The under trials were brought late to the Sessions court as the police escort were believed to be preoccupied with the Civic polls.
Trial of the case was later adjourned to November 11-12, with Judge U V Bakre requesting the prosecution to examine the witnesses on that day.
