Team Herald
PONDA: After evading arrest for nearly a month, molestation accused Mangueshi Temple Priest Dhanjay Bhave surrendered before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Shahir Isani, on Tuesday.
Two Goan origin girls – one based in Mumbai and the other in the US – had complained to the Ponda police that the accused had molested them when they had visited the temple for worship on June 14 and 22, respectively. Their complaints were registered as FIRs.
Following this, Bhave filed two applications praying for anticipatory bails before Additional Sessions Judge Bela Naik, who dismissed both the pleas. Thereafter, Bhave’s appeals against the dismissal order were also rejected by the High Court of Bombay at Goa.
Since the time the FIRs were filed and till his surrender on Tuesday, Bhave was evading arrest.
According to Ponda PI Harish Madcaikar, immediately after his surrender on Tuesday, Bhave filed two applications for regular bail, with a prayer for interim bail, but the same was rejected.
The orders rejecting the interim bails were pronounced in the evening and thereafter the JMFC informed the Ponda police about the same at 4.30 pm on Tuesday. Thereafter, police arrested Bhave, produced him before JMFC Shahir Isani, who remanded the accused in police custody for two days.
