Team Herald
PANJIM: Social activist Deepak Gadekar and two constables Keshav Naik and Mahendra Mandrekar attached to Calangute police station, who were arrested on Saturday on charges of criminal conspiracy and dacoity, have been remanded in police custody for ten days.
According to sources, during the course of investigation, Rs 1.26 lakh out of a total Rs 10 hakh have been recovered from the two accused police constables. Sources said the case may be transferred to crime branch.
As per the complaint, Gadekar contacted a Mangalore-based businessman Karthik Kotian through a common friend proposing a deal to exchange old currency notes worth Rs 16 lakh belonging to Gadekar for new notes worth Rs 10 lakh from Kotian. Kotian agreed to this and a meeting was fixed on Dec 1.
At the scheduled moment, Gadekar arrived at the spot along with five accomplices, two of whom were constables Keshav Naik and Mahendra Mandrekar, in a car along with two other associates on a scooter.
Gadekar asked the complainant to show the currency so that he could verify the amount. When Kotian showed him the bag, Gadekar, with the help of his constable friends, snatched the bag in an attempt to stage a currency seizure.
Following this, a scuffle broke out in which Kotian was assaulted by Gadekar and his accomplices.
On Saturday, Calangute Police arrested all the three accused on charges of criminal conspiracy and dacoity.
Police sources have also confirmed that a PSI and a police constable attached to Porvorim police station are also involved in the case.
