Team Herald

PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday reserved orders on two anticipatory bail applications of Mangueshi temple priest Dhananjay Bhave in the molestation cases. 

Opposing anticipatory bail, the prosecution contended that the matter is very sensitive as the alleged crime was committed at a temple. However, pleading for anticipatory bail, the accused contended that he was innocent and that he is ready to cooperate with the investigation. 

The HC had earlier refused to grant interim relief from arrest to Bhave, a priest of Mangueshi Temple accused of molestation and had issued notices to the State government while granting liberty to the victims to intervene in the matter.

The public prosecutor on behalf of Ponda police had sought time to file the say. Granting the prosecution a week, the HC issued notices to the State government and Ponda police.

Additional Sessions Judge Bela Naik had dismissed the two anticipatory bail applications filed by Bhave against whom two FIRs have been registered by Ponda police for allegedly molesting two girls in the temple on different occasions.

The case pertains to two Goan origin girls – one residing in Mumbai while the other in the US – who had complained to Ponda police that they were molested by the accused when they had visited Mangueshi temple. Two girls were allegedly molested by Bhave inside the temple on separate occasions, on June 14 and June 22.  

Meanwhile, the relatives of molestation victims have demanded the arrest of the accused priest by Dhananjay Bhave.