A Mapusa court has granted bail to 24-year-old Deepan, a student from Delhi accused of fatally running over Maria Fernandes, a tender coconut seller from Mandrem, following a reported dispute involving his pet dog.
The court's decision came after it noted procedural lapses by the police, particularly their failure to inform the accused of the grounds of arrest as required under Article 22(1) of the Indian Constitution. While the arrest memo contained signatures from both Deepan and his father, the court found it lacked essential legal details and did not constitute valid communication of the arrest grounds.
Deepan's lawyer argued that his client had no prior criminal record, was cooperating with the investigation, and was being unfairly targeted by a media trial. On the other hand, the public prosecutor contended that Deepan had confessed to the crime upon voluntarily appearing at the police station and maintained that due legal procedures had been followed during the arrest.
The incident, which occurred in Mandrem, escalated following an alleged altercation between Deepan and Maria’s son, Joseph, reportedly over Deepan’s dog. Witnesses claim that in the heat of the argument, Deepan drove his vehicle at high speed, allegedly dragging Maria along the road. She was later declared dead at Tuem Health Centre.
Maria’s grieving family members, including her sons, told the court that the family was financially dependent on her daily earnings. They described the incident as a reckless and deliberate act that took the life of an innocent woman trying to make a living.
The case has stirred strong public reactions and media scrutiny, with citizens and activists demanding justice for the deceased. While Deepan is now out on bail, the investigation into the fatal hit-and-run remains ongoing.