The District and Sessions court on Friday granted interim bail to So ham Naik, arrested by the Crime Branch in connection with multiple sexual abuse cases, who had moved an anticipatory bail applica tion in one of the cases. The court issued notic es to the investigating of ficer, defence counsel and the public prosecutor, and heard arguments on Friday. Adv Amey Prabhudessai appeared for the accused, while public prosecutor Sa mant represented the State. The matter has been posted for further hearing on April 22. In his application, Naik claimed innocence and sought conditional bail. Police sources said Naik, already an accused in the Curchorem sexual abuse case, was rearrested by the Crime Branch in another case involving the assault of a minor.
This is the fifth FIR registered against him, though he has not yet been formally arrested in the fifth case. The latest offence has been registered under Sec tion 69 of the BNS, 2023, and Section 67A of the IT Act. Police said the court recorded the victim’s state ment after directing the investigating officer to pro duce her. Naik is currently in Crime Branch custody under a transfer warrant and faces charges under the POCSO Act, Goa Children’s Act and BNS. Police have attached an SUV allegedly used in the crime. He is accused of sex ually assaulting minors and young women, recording obscene videos and black mailing victims. Five FIRs have been registered, with four arrests made so far.
