PANJIM: In a fresh development in the case over alleged derogatory remarks against St Francis Xavier, a Vasco court on Thursday sent Madhav Khattar — the brother of prime accused Gautam Khattar — to four days of police custody, even as it issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against the absconding main accused.
Madhav Khattar, brought to Goa from Dehradun by a Vasco Police team late Wednesday night, was produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in Vasco amid heightened public scrutiny. After hearing both sides, the court allowed custodial interrogation, giving the Crime Branch a four-day window to probe his role and map potential links to the incident.
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The custody order sharpens the investigation’s focus: officers are expected to examine communication trails, establish who organised and participated in the event where the alleged remarks were made, and determine whether there was any coordinated intent or wider conspiracy.
Confirming the development, Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta said the custody period would enable investigators to “probe possible links and establish the extent of involvement.”
Running parallel to the custody order, the JMFC court issued an NBW against Gautam Khattar, who remains untraceable. The warrant escalates the legal pressure on the prime accused and authorises police to arrest him without bail upon apprehension. Officials said multiple leads are being pursued, but his continued absence has become a central fault line in the case.
The case was registered after alleged derogatory remarks made during an event in Vasco triggered public outrage. With one Khattar now in custody and the other still at large, the investigation enters a critical phase where the Crime Branch is expected to test the consistency of statements, recover digital evidence, and establish a clear chain of responsibility.
Further action is likely once custodial interrogation concludes and efforts to execute the NBW against Gautam Khattar progress.
