TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The Crime branch on Tuesday told the Special Court, Margao hearing the Canacona building collapse case that it would immediately move the Court for the attachment of properties owned by Ms Bharat developers.
The investigating agency has also told the Special Court that the new Directors of Ms Bharat developers from Punjab, who has replaced absconding directors Jugdeep Seahgal and Pradip Singh Birring, has been summoned for interrogations in the case.
Making a submission before Special Judge Nutan Sardessai on the progress of investigations, Special Public Prosecutor Sarojini Sardinha on Tuesday submitted that the investigating agency has obtained detailed information on the immovable properties of Ms Bharat Developers. She said the investigating agency would officially move the Court for the attachment of these properties as part of the investigations. It is learnt that the crime branch has identified three properties of the builders in Goa for attachment.
Sardinha further told the court that official information received from the Registrar of companies has revealed that the two new directors hail from Punjab. “They have been summoned by the Crime branch for interrogation in the case”, she said.
As far as properties owned by Ms Bharat Developers in the state of Goa are concerned, Sardinha drew attention of the Special Judge that the Sub Registrars have been already alerted and directed not to transfer or register any document in respect of any property owned by Ms Bharat Developers.
Saying that Ms Bharat Developers have already sold its office premise in Mumbai on February 7, the Special Public prosecutor said the Crime branch has located the purchaser of the premises and has been summoned for interrogation by the Crime branch.
Ex-cos bail order fixed for Feb 24
MARGAO: The fate of the three former Canacona Chief officers – Dipak Desai, Pradip Naik and Prashant Shirodkar – arrested in the Canacona building collapse will be decided on February 24.
The Special Judge, Nutan Sardesai has reserved orders on the bail plea filed by the three former CMC officers even as the prosecution has vehemently opposed granting of bail to the three officers.
Tuesday saw the Special Court hearing arguments on the bail application filed by former Chief Officer, Prashant Shirodkar, who has been in police and judicial custody for over a month now since his arrest on January 13.
Prashant’s lawyer, Adv Prakash Caeiro made a forceful plea before the Special Court for release of the officer on bail saying that the investigating agency has hauled up the officer, while the builders are still at large, holding meetings and disposing properties.
He said the police have till date not established that the former Chief Officer had taken any gratification, adding that his client should not languish in jail on account of laxity in the investigations.
He submitted that the former Chief Officer had signed the documents in good faith after the same were presented to him by the municipal engineer.
Contractor’s bail rejected:
The Special Court, Margao has rejected the bail application of building contractor Vishwas Desai in the Canacona building collapse case.
Special Judge, Nutan Sardesai pronounced the order of rejection of the bail application, which was strongly opposed by the prosecution.
Look out notices against builders
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Look out notices against builders Pradip Singh Birring and Jugdeep Kumar Sehgal who police claim are absconding, have been issued by Crime Branch on Tuesday in connection with the Ruby Residency collapse case at Canacona.
The lookout circulars were issued after they failed to respond to repeated summons and were neither present at their respective residences nor office in Mumbai.
Five persons including four government officers have already been arrested for culpable homicide and other cognisable charges under the Indian Penal Code. A total of 31 labourers had lost their lives after the partly-constructed building collapsed at Chawdi, Canacona, on January 4, 2014.
