THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024
Peter De Souza
ANJUNA: Looks like Edwin Nunes, who was running the Curlies restaurant at Anjuna and currently out on bail in connection with the death of BJP functionary Sonail Phogat has invited problems for himself and is charged of forging a certificate and claiming that he was Covid-19 positive.
A jointly coordinated swift operation of the Hyderabad narco sleuths and the Goa police, quickly unearthed that Nunes has produced what turned out to be fake Covid positive certificate, avoid coming for questioning in the NDPS case linked to Sonali Phogat’s death.
At the same time Nunes knew that the Hyderabad narco cops are close on his heels to round him up as n accused in the Priteesh Borkar linked NDPS case of Hyderabad police
It may be recalled that on September 7, Nunes was granted conditional bail by the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Court, Mapusa and directed to report to the Anjuna police station as and when required by the investigating officer. However, when he was asked to appear before the investigating officer, Nunes failed to do so.
Besides releasing Nunes on personal bail bond of Rs 30,000, he was asked not to visit the Curlies restaurant till filing of the chargesheet and to obtain police permission before travelling outside the State.
“We had summoned him (Nunes) on three occasions as the bail conditions stipulated that he should depose before the IO (investigating officer) as and when required. But Nunes failed to do so and instead submitted a RT-PCR certificate from the Sub-Urban Diagnostics,” said Anjuna PI Prajal Dessai.
But when checked with the Sub-Urban Diagnostics, it was found to be fake even as Nunes had claimed that the certificate was genuine. Police said that Nunes had claimed that he was sick on three occasions and hence could not appear for investigations. Then he went a step further and submitted RT-PCR certificate, which was found to be allegedly forged.
The Anjuna police have registered a case against Nunes under sections 468 and 371 of IPC and PSI Tejaskumar Naik is conducting investigations under the guidance of Anjuna PI Prajal Dessai.
No-win for Covid negative Edwin
8Out on bail in the NDPS case connected to Sonali Phogat’s death
8Was required to respond to summons for questioning in the case when required
8Since the Hyderabad police were looking for him as a wanted accused in the Pritesh Borkar NDPS case investigated by the Hyderabad- Narcotics Enforcement Wing.
8Police suspect, he didn’t turn up when called by the Anjuna Police around the 20th or 21st fearing arrest by the Hyderabad police
8He replied to summons by saying he had fever and he could have contracted dengue or covid
8Apprehending that the police might move for the cancellation of his bail (which they have done now), he did a COVID test at a private Suburban Diagnostics clinic
8Between 10 and 11 am on Sat Sep 24, the Anjuna police received the COVID report submitted by Edwin's people which stated that he was "Covid positive"
8The H- NEW team working closely with the Goa (Anjuna) police checked around 11 if the report has come and was told that the report was Covid positive.
8After checking the report/certificate, the suspicion of the police grew and teams were dispatched to the Suburban diagnostics to check the report in the system of the clinic, based on the Unique ID of each case.
8The original report was immediately unearthed which stated that Edwin’s COVID sample had returned Negative for Covid. “The manipulation was done at Edwins end and a fake Covid positive report/certificate was submitted”, said an officer
8Case registered against Edwin Nunes sections 468 and 471 of IPC for “preparing a forged RTPCR certificate in his name for Covid-19, of Suburban Diagnostics and produced the same as genuine at the Anjuna Police station
14 days judicial custody to Steve
PANJIM: The Hyderabad JMFC Court on Saturday sent Goa’s John Stephen D’Souza alias Steve, owner of Hilltop club, to 14 days judicial custody in the NDPS offence registered in Osmania University Police station. D’Souza along with Edwin Nunes and several others has been named as one of the king pins in the drugs cartel matter.
D’Souza was taken to Hyderabad on a transit remand of two days for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the Hyderabad police will attempt arresting Nunes as his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Hyderabad court on Friday.
The Hyderabad police had arrested D’Souza on Sep 21 after he was named by arrested peddlers who were involved in the interstate drugs racket.
