PANJIM: In a decisive move setting the stage for a high-profile legal showdown, the North Goa Special Court at Merces has cleared the way for the trial of eight individuals accused in the brutal September 2025 assault on activist Rama Kankonkar at Caranzalem, ruling that there is sufficient prima facie evidence to frame charges against them.
The court also dismissed the discharge application filed by accused Zenito Cardozo, who is alleged to have masterminded the attack.
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The charges were framed against Suresh Naik alias Booky (31) and Sairaj Govekar (27), both from Porvorim, Manish Hadfadkar (29) of Chorao, Anthony Nadar (31) and his brother Francis Nadar (29), Minguel Araujo (23), Franco D’Costa (28) and Zenito Cardozo (36), all residents of Santa Cruz.
According to the prosecution, seven of the accused allegedly assaulted Kankonkar with cable wires, threatened him with knife, smeared cow dung on his face and mouth, and hurled caste-based abuses on September 18, 2025.
The prosecution claimed that Cardozo orchestrated the attack through WhatsApp after being upset over social media posts and taunts by the victim. CCTV footage, recovery of cable wires and vehicles, medical records showing grievous injuries, disclosure panchanamas, and other evidence form part of the chargesheet.
Rejecting the defence’s contention that there was no case for an attempt to murder or against Cardozo, Special Judge Vijaya V Ambre observed that the court, at the stage of framing charges, is only required to determine whether a prima facie case exists and cannot conduct a mini-trial or assess the evidence in detail.
The court held that the material on record raises sufficient grounds for all eight accused to face a joint trial.
The accused will face trial for offences under the BNS, including attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, and destruction of evidence, as well as provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The Panjim Police had filed a chargesheet against all the accused for offences punishable under Sections 126(2), 109, 351(3), 238, and 111, read with 3(5) and 61 of the BNS, 2023, and Sections 3(1)(a), 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), and 3(2)(v) of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
