Team Herald
MARGAO: Additional Sessions Judge, Margao, Edgar Fernandes acquitted three persons accused of possessing explosives illegally, while the fourth accused is still absconding.
The accused were acquitted as all the panch witnesses including Ravindra Arjun Velip, who was a candidate at the recently held Assembly elections, turned hostile.
The prosecution’s case was that on December 18, 2013, police seized 86 and a half bags of Ammonium Nitrate with each bag containing 50 kgs of the substance, therefore, the total amount recovered was 4,325 kgs; 1493 metres of fuse wire and 500 detonators from a godown in Ambaulim, Quepem taluka.
While the godown belonged to Juzinho Fernandes, it was taken on rent by Mohidin Kunhi who was supplied the explosives by Vinay Shet from Yellapur along with his father Rawalnath Shet.
The State’s case was that Mohidin, Vinay and Rawalnath supplied and were in possession of explosive substances without having valid and effective licence in contravention of the Explosives Act, while Juzinho provided the storage facility for the explosives without having valid licence to store explosives and that too in a residential locality.
The State examined 15 witnesses in this case that was investigated by then DySP Subash Goltekar who has since retired following a complaint lodged by PI Ram Asre.
The panch witnesses turned hostile and would not speak the truth before the court.
The witnesses who turned hostile include Ravindra Arjun Velip who was the Aam Aadmi Party candidate at the recently held assembly elections, Krishna Kondulkar, Hanumanth Wadar and Nazir Choudhary.
While Mohidin Kunhi, Vinay Shet and Juzinho Fernandes have been acquitted, Rawalnath Shet continues to be absconding till date.
