Team Herald
PANJIM: The two months of investigation into businessman Swapnil Walke’s brutal killing has led the Goa Police to a series of evidence and 13-odd eyewitnesses, so far. The Crime Branch (CB) which is no hurry to charge-sheet the case has recovered a second revolver from the house of an accused.
The revolver, hidden under the roof of the house of Mustafa Sheikh, has been sent for forensic examination. With this property being CB’s latest confiscation, police sources claim they are preparing a water tight case against all the accused including three men from Bihar.
“We have sent all properties, recovered during the investigation, for forensic analyses. The pistol seized by Margao Police has gone for multiple forensic examinations. The pistol had blood stains. The second revolver will be sent for similar tests, although it was not carried by the accused at the crime scene,” the source revealed, speaking to Herald.
The conspiracy to kill proprietor of Krishni Jewellers was hatched almost six months before the robbery ended in murder, in September. After dramatic arrest of brainchild behind the crime Evender; Mustafa and Omkar were taken into custody. Sheikh had surrendered hours after the first arrest to avoid possible encounter by the police.
Over 40 days after the three arrests, CB had arrested Kundan Kumar, Rahul Kumar Malik and Shani Kumar from Begulsarai in Bihar for illegally selling revolvers to Evender and Mustafa.
The CB had recently laid their hands on a mobile phone, which contained a recorded video of accused test firing the first seized pistol in a jungle in South Goa. The burnt blood-stained clothes, bullet retrieved from the jewellery shop and other such evidence are also undergoing respective forensic tests at Goa’s lone forensic laboratory and labs in other parts of India.
A stolen Bolero car and a bike, used by the accused on the day of the crime, are attached with the police. Considering sensitivity of the case, the government was quick to transfer the probe from Margao Police to CB.
While probe is underway, it is reliably learnt that 13 independent witnesses will be crucial for the case as they are witnesses to the incident. “We still have time to charge sheet the case. Until then, we are preparing a water tight case to prosecute the accused,” the source said.
The recovery of the second weapon was at the behest of the trio followed by Mustafa’s confession. “In ongoing investigation of Margao murder case, upon interrogation of persons arrested in Bihar, it (is) revealed (that) purchase of not 1 but 2 firearms from Bihar. CB team led by PI (Chetan) Patil immediately carried out fresh search of house of prime accused Mustafa and recovered one more firearm in rusted condition from the roof of the house,” a press statement issued by CB SP Shobhit Saxena on Thursday, stated. The CB, he informed, has registered a fresh offence under relevant sections of the Arms Act.
