Team Herald
PANJIM/BICHOLIM: After staying away for nearly a week, and sparking off protests from Panjim to Paris over his incendiary comments on St Francis Xavier's 'DNA test', former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Goa Prant chief Subhash Velingkar made a backdoor entry to the Bicholim Police Station on Thursday, where he was questioned for a mere 20 minutes. Velingkar only surfaced after the High Court granted him some relief and ordered him
to cooperate with the
police investigation.
While leaving the police station in his car, Velingkar declined to speak to reporters. The police had issued him three notices under Section 35 (3) of BNSS.
North Goa SP Kaushal said that Velingkar has been summoned by the investigating officer to remain present at the Bicholim Police Station for further questioning.
Earlier in the day, the High Court directed him to present himself before the Bicholim Police Station in the case registered against him under Section 299 of BNS for deliberate and malicious comments and hurting the religious sentiments over his remarks on St Francis Xavier.
In what appeared to be a very friendly and comfortable exchange, arguing on behalf of Velingkar, senior advocate S D Lotlikar said that the applicant (Velingkar) is "ready and willing to cooperate with the investigating agency" but should not be arrested.
Public Prosecutor S G Bhobe submitted that the applicant will have to attend the Bicholim Police Station for investigation at 5 pm on Thursday (October 10) itself which was readily agreed to by Velingkar's legal team.
The Court then asked the applicant to attend the police station thereafter, as and when called by the investigating agency, in order to comply with the notice issued under Section 35 (3) of the BNSS.
The Court also allowed intervention applications filed by four persons.
Meanwhile, the next hearing of the criminal application (bail) filed by Velingkar has been fixed on Tuesday, October 15.