PANJIM: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will question Passport Officer Agnelo Fernandes on Wednesday. The central agency sought his presence through a verbal communiqué to a local court.
CBI assured the court they will not arrest the officer until his anticipatory bail plea is heard. The plea came up for hearing on Tuesday and was adjourned to September 21.
Fernandes, booked under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code, moved the CBI Court seeking anticipatory bail.
The failure of CBI Public Prosecutor Vivek Srivastava to appear in the court when the matter came up for hearing, owing to another court hearing at Margao, led Judge BP Deshpande to adjourn the case.
CBI’s investigating officer then requested the court for Fernandes’ presence at 10 am on Wednesday, which was granted on the condition he would not be arrested till the anticipatory bail application is heard.
The IO assured to comply with this condition, while the defence submitted that Fernandes will co-operate with the investigation agency and appear as and when summoned.
Sources said CBI has opposed the application and sought Fernandes’ custodial interrogation to ascertain charges of corruption levelled against him.
