The alleged custodial assault on Navelim resident Edberg Pereira (37) has taken a significant turn, with the Goa Police Crime Branch, Ribandar, revealing that two inmates were present inside the Margao Town Police Sta-tion lock-up at the time of the incident, making them key eyewitnesses to the al-leged assault.
The incident is alleged to have occurred on Octo-ber 22, 2025, while Perei ra was in police custody at the Margao Town Police Station. Investigations have established that the two inmates earlier arrested by the Maina-Curtorim Po-lice were lodged in the same lock-up on that day. Both are presently under judicial custody at the Cen-tral Jail, Colvale.
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The Crime Branch on Monday filed an application before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Margao, seeking permission to record the inmates’ state-ments. The Crime Branch stated that scrutiny of Mai-na-Curtorim Police records confirmed the presence of the two accused, who were arrested in a case regis-tered under Sections 305(a) and 331(4) read with 3(5) of the BNS, 2023, at the Margao lock-up during the relevant period.
The Crime Branch informed the court that the two in-mates are direct eyewitnesses to the alleged assault on Pereira, which forms part of Margao Town Police Station Crime No 89/2025, registered under Sections 117(2) and 198 of the BNS. Investigators have stated that the assault allegedly occurred near the lock-up area of the police sta tion and that the witnesses possess crucial details vital to establishing accountability
As part of the probe, statements have already been recorded from suspended Police Sub Inspector Nilesh Shirvoikar, who was the duty officer at the time, as well as the lock-up guard and other reserve police personnel pres-ent on duty. Summons were issued to all concerned per sonnel.
According to the complaint lodged by the Margao Po lice, at around 2.52 pm on October 22, PSI Shirvoikar ap-proached Pereira inside the lock-up to calm him down and allegedly used “mild force,” following which Pereira report-edly lost balance, fell, and suffered a head injury. Medical records from the South District Hospital and Goa Medical College (GMC) corroborate the seriousness of the injury, with Pereira requiring prolonged ICU treatment.
The case timeline has drawn scrutiny. While the alleged assault occurred on October 22, a complaint was registered only on October 23 under Sections 115(2) and 198 of the BNS, citing negligence and disobedience of law. On October 29, the Chief Judicial Magistrate permitted the conversion of the non-cognisable complaint into an FIR under Sections 117 and 198, which was formally registered on October 30-raising concerns over delay and potential conflict of interest, as the initial inquiry was conducted by the same police station where the incident allegedly took place. The Crime Branch assumed charge on November 3, 2025.
The investigation was initially handled by Police Inspec-tor Prashal Dessai, who was later transferred to Quepem, after which PI Dattaguru Sawant took over the probe.
Since then, the Crime Branch has inspected the lock-up facility, recorded statements of over ten individuals in-cluding Head Constable Minguel Vaz, examined statements from Pereira’s family members, obtained CCTV footage from the South Goa police administration after a second re-quest, and sought a detailed medical opinion from GMC to assess the nature and severity of the injuries.
Preliminary findings and the FIR point to possible pro-cedural violations by PSI Shirvoikar, including alleged non-compliance with Supreme Court guidelines laid down in D K Basu vs State of West Bengal and failure to adhere to Goa Police Standard Operating Procedures governing the handling of detainees. Investigators are examining whether the force used was justified or amounted to negligence resulting in grievous injury.
The case remains under active investigation, with au-thorities closely analysing CCTV footage, medical evidence, and eyewitness testimonies to determine individual culpa-bility and whether the suspended officer acted within the bounds of law.
