The Merces Judicial Magis trate’s Court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of Zenito Cardozo and seven others by another 14 days in connection with the assault on so cial activist Rama Kankonkar. The court has directed the investi gating police to file the chargesheet by November 18, while the case is now scheduled for the next hearing on No vember 26, 2025. Cardozo, who was arrested on Sep tember 22, faces charges under Sec tions 126(2), 109, and 351(3) read with Section 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Earlier, on October 31, the Merc es court had similarly extended the judicial custody of the accused as the investigation continued. The eight accused were once again pro duced before the court on Thurs day after the expiry of their earlier remand period.
After reviewing the progress of the probe, the court granted the extension to facilitate completion of the inves tigation. The special court at Merces had earlier rejected Car dozo’s bail plea on October 18, citing the seriousness of the charges. Cardozo, a known history-sheeter, was arrested after his name surfaced during the interrogation of other accused persons held by the Panjim Police in connection with the broad daylight assault on Kankonkar at Caranza lem on September 18, 2025
