PANJIM: A day after the horrific Banastarim case was transferred from the Mardol Police to the Crime Branch (CB), Ribandar, a team headed by Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Nidhin Valsan on Saturday afternoon visited the accident site and began conducting investigations in the case, which snuffed out three innocent lives and left three others seriously injured.
During his visit to the accident site, the SP along with his team surveyed the area. The locals from Banastarim were also present.
Though the case has been handed over to the CB, the Mardol Police had almost completed the investigations and had also recorded the statements of some of the witnesses.
The villagers of Divar along with their MLA Rajesh Faldessai had demanded that the investigations into the accident be handed over to the CB as they suspected that a woman, who is the owner of the killer Mercedes, was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Some villagers also demanded that the case be transferred to the Central Bureau of investigation (CBI) since Crime Branch officials are also from the Goa Police department and that they do not have the expertise.
The Mardol Police had arrested Shripad alias Paresh Sawardekar, who was found to be driving the vehicle under the influence of alcohol after medical examination. A case has been registered against Paresh under Section 304 (ii) of the IPC.
The villagers alleged that the Mardol Police had botched up the investigation and failed to conduct the blood test of Mercedes SUV owner Meghana Sawardekar and for also failing in their assurance that she would be called to the police station for investigation.
Paresh has been remanded in judicial custody and his application for bail will come up for hearing before the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday. On the other hand, Meghana has been granted interim relief by the Sessions Court, Ponda till August 23.
