Panaji: The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has found prima-facie evidence of gross misconduct by five police personnel in connection with the alleged illegal detention and assault of five persons, including a 17-year-old minor, at the Maina-Curtorim Police Station in June.
In its inquiry report dated August 26, 2026, issued in Suo Motu Proceeding No. 47/2026, the Commission recommended compensation of ₹20,000 each to the five victims, amounting to a total of ₹1 lakh.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The proceedings were initiated after the Commission took suo motu cognizance of a report published in O Heraldo on June 10 under the headline “Five, including minor, allege police brutality.”
According to the inquiry report, four men were brought to the Maina-Curtorim Police Station by PCR personnel around 12.15 am on June 7 following an alleged assault incident. A fifth person, Chetan Baswa, later arrived at the police station and reported that he had been assaulted following a minor accident at Rawanfond Circle on the previous evening.
The Commission found that all five persons were kept at the police station throughout the intervening night and were released only on the morning of June 7.
During the subsequent inquiry, the victims alleged that they had been wrongfully confined in the male barrack between around 10.30 pm and 3 am. They further alleged that police personnel assaulted them, forced them to perform indecent acts and demanded money for their release.
The five victims were subsequently referred for medical examination at South Goa District Hospital. The Commission noted that their medical records recorded allegations of assault at the police station and showed injuries including abrasions, bruises, tenderness and swelling.
The inquiry also found that the detention had taken place without an FIR, Station Diary entry or other legal authority. The Commission noted that Maina-Curtorim Police Station does not have a police lock-up and that accused persons are generally kept at the Margao Police Station lock-up.
The report states that Police Inspector of Maina-Curtorim came to know of the alleged assault on June 7 through Vivek Naik and subsequently submitted a confidential report against PSI Sanket S. Naik and Police Constable Chetan C. Koli.
Disciplinary action followed against the police personnel. PC Chetan C. Koli was suspended on June 8, while HC Sameer J. Sudhir and PC Pundalik M. Parit were suspended on June 11. PSI Gaurav G. Naik and PSI Sanket S. Naik were subsequently suspended on June 12.
After examining the records, victim statements, medical certificates and other material, the Commission concluded that there were prima-facie grounds to hold that the five police personnel had wrongfully confined and physically assaulted the victims.
The Commission stressed that custodial violence and illegal detention undermine public confidence in law enforcement agencies. It also referred to Supreme Court rulings emphasising that the fundamental right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution continues to apply to persons in State custody.
The Commission directed that the respondents pay ₹20,000 to each of the five victims—Ajit Soni, Vithal Rathod, Vaibhav Pednekar, Yuvraj Dhamgay and Chetan Baswa—within 30 days.
The report said the police authorities would be at liberty to recover the compensation from the salaries of the five personnel after the disciplinary proceedings are concluded.
The Commission has also sought the report of the disciplinary proceedings against the five police personnel.
The Superintendent of Police (South) and the Police Inspector of Maina-Curtorim Police Station have been directed to submit their comments, including details of action taken or proposed, within 30 days or by October 5, 2026, under Section 18(e) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
