Team Herald
PANJIM: Crime Branch (CB) has taken into custody three suspects, all undergoing trial in different cases, in connection with the murder of gangster Vinayak Karbotkar.
The trio identified as Rahul Kumar, George Fernandes and Mohd Salim Shaikh are alleged to have been involved in a brawl with Karbotkar in the Sada sub-jail, that led to the latter’s death. “They have been arrested on suspicion. Interrogation will reveal whether they are directly involved in the killing and the motive behind resorting to this crime,” a senior CB officer told Herald. Earlier this week CB had obtained a court warrant for custody of the three inmates.
Karbotkar, facing trial in more than 10 criminal cases, was killed on January 24, 2017, after a fight broke out between two factions of inmates in the jail in which some other inmates were injured. The case, which was registered with Mormugao police station, was transferred to CB in February.
Director General of Police Dr Muktesh Chander had ordered the transfer of the case following apprehension by the deceased’s father that police would tamper with the investigation as they themselves are witnesses.
The probe, sources said, is likely to expose a larger nexus between some Sada sub-jail officials and Vasco escort cell sleuths as Oras jail authorities’ refusal to take Karbotkar’s custody despite a transit remand, the time taken to ferry him from Oras (in Maharashtra) to Sada and the inmate’s entry into the jail premise in an inebriated condition raised queries about what happened enroute. Karbotkar was being tried in another narcotics case in Nashik and was last charged with allegedly murdering gangster Askpak Bhengre in Colvale jail in June 2016.
