CURCHOREM: Rajesh Dessai, the brother of former Industries Minister Ramrao Dessai, was found dead in his farmhouse at Soliem, Curchorem, on Thursday.
Quepem Deputy Superintendent of Police Sammy Tavares informed that Curchorem police, after receiving information of Rajesh’s death, immediately rushed to the house and found the body lying near the bed.
“We are conducting the panchanama, collecting all possible clues and will refer the body for a post-mortem,” said Tavares, adding that no external injuries could be seen on the body
The police also called a dog squad and fingerprint expert. The body has been sent to Hospicio Hospital, Margao, for the post-mortem.
Later speaking to the media, Curchorem PI Ravindra Desai said that the post-mortem examination did not reveal the cause of death. However, the report’s findings had pointed out that a strong dose of poison had entered his body orally. The report has also ruled out the snake bite suspicion and stated that the black spots found on his legs were that of ant bites.
The viscera will be sent for chemical analysis in the next two weeks which will help confirm the exact cause of death.
Desai added that the police will begin interrogations and are following the various leads in the case.
Sources added that the police have also found a diary of the victim in the trunk of his car.
Earlier during the day, the news of death of Rajesh Dessai spread like wild fire in Quepem Curchorem, Cacora and Sanvordem in the morning on Thursday. The local people and the close relatives of Rajesh are suspecting of a snake bite as the cause of death but are not ruling out the possibility of foul play as there is information that Rajesh had indeed met and sat with 2 persons on Wednesday night. Rajesh Dessai allegedly being one of the biggest matka agent of the locality was very famous in the area. It is heard that Rajesh had told the labourers who worked at his farmhouse to come after 2 days as he may not be there during the period. Rajesh frequently stayed at the farmhouse in Soliem. The relatives of Rajesh were camping at the farmhouse since morning after they heard the news.
Incidentally, it was the birthday of Rajesh on the night he died and there were empty utensils with some leftover food in it on incident scene. The farmhouse had 3 CCTV cameras installed on the outer walls but after investigation it was revealed that they were dummy CCTV cameras.
This farmhouse in Soliem had come in news over the involvement of Rajesh and his relative Balesh Dessai at the time of Samir Mapari murder case. The farmhouse has now come back in picture as Rajesh who was under trial in the case of Samir Mapari case and was subsequently acquitted by Sessions Court is now found dead in one of the rooms of the same house.
