PONDA: In a typical case of police high handedness, owner of a fast food restaurant in Marcel named Viraj Mashelkar was subjected to a merciless thrashing allegedly by a police Head Constable named Sameer Fadte and his accomplices over a trivial matter. The entire assault was captured by the shop’s CCTV cameras.
Five persons have been booked for assault, including three police personnel viz Head Constable Samir Fadte attached to Ponda police station, Constable from Anti-Narcotics Cell, Akash Narvekar and IRB Constable Mitesh Gaad. The other two accused are Mohit Gaad, who is supposed to be brother of Mitesh Gaad and Supresh.
“All of them have been booked under Section 143, 147, 462, 504, 324,506 (II),” said Mardol PI Ragoba Kamath.
It is learnt that Sameer Fadte is absconding after the incident. Police are conducting a search operation to nab the accused.
Mother of Viraj Mashelkar on Monday morning approached Mardol police station, seeking justice for her son.
Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the matter.
Incidentally, Fadte was suspended in connection with an assault case at Old Goa in 2022.
As per sources, Viraj Mashelkar and Samir Fadte had started entered into partnership to start a fast food joint a few years ago. Since Mashelkar was employed, the restaurant’s operations were mostly handled by Fadte and his wife.
However, Mashelkar lost his job during the pandemic and he removed Phadte’s wife from the partnership. This had led to multiple skirmishes between Fadte and Mashelkar before. The Sunday incident apparently was an outcome of the same dispute. PSI Sushant Sangodkar is further investigating the matter under PI Raghoba Kamat.
