PONDA: Memories of last year’s horrific ‘killer Merc’ accident at Banastarim, which snuffed out three innocent lives, and left three others injured, are still afresh in the minds of Goans. It is shocking to note that the Crime Branch, Ribandar, which is investigating the case, is yet to complete its probe and file a chargesheet against the accused in the court. The big question is whether the victims and their relatives will get justice or will the case be swept under the carpet?
Still after a year, people feel that the accused being rich, the police are not serious and have demanded that the men in uniform need to show their skills in the case to ensure that the accused are held guilty and prove to the public that justice is equal for all.
On August 6, 2023, late evening, Panjim-based businessman Paresh Sawardekar, while proceeding from Ponda to Panjim, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, drove a Mercedes SUV in a rash and reckless manner and rammed into five oncoming vehicles, thereby snuffing out the lives of three innocent persons.
These persons included a couple on two-wheeler - Suresh Fadte (58) and his Bhavana Fadte (52) from Divar, and another rider Anup Karmalkar (26), a resident of Bandora, who had arrived in Goa in search of a job. Three others – Raj Majgaonkar, Vanita Bhandari, a college student, and Shankar Halarnkar – were grievously injured. The incident had sent shock waves across the State.
Those injured in the accident were bedridden for a long time after they sustained severe injuries including fractures. Vanita, a college student, with support from her brother, is coping up with life, even as she tried to attend her classes.
The accident occurred on the Banastarim Bridge where the speed limit is 30 kmph, the Sawardekar family was returning after attending a party at Khandepar, Ponda.
A lot of controversy prevailed as to who was driving the ‘killer Merc’ at the time of the accident.
A commuter’s claim that Meghana Sawardekar, the wife of the alleged accused Paresh, was in the driver’s seat, gave a different twist to the case, as the police in its inquiry stated that it was Paresh who was in the driver’s seat at the time of the accident.
Though Paresh was booked and arrested by the police for rash driving and causing the fatal accident, Divar locals believed that it was Meghana who was in the driver’s seat and led a morcha to Mardol Police Station, demanding her arrest. After being gheraoed by Divar locals, Mardol Police, including then Ponda DySP Ashish Shirodkar, told the agitators that they had ample proof that Paresh was driving the Mercedes at the time of accident and had registered an offence against him for rash and reckless driving.
The High Court had directed the accused to deposit Rs two crore and to provide compensation to relatives of the deceased and the injured victims.