BASURI DESAI
basuri@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The sudden disappearance of Bashudev Bhandari, a skilled swimmer and businessman, has left his family in turmoil. On August 31, he vanished without a trace at St Estevam ferry point, leaving only questions in his wake.
While his female companion managed to escape, Bashudev’s fate remains uncertain, prompting his family to challenge the police investigation and the very circumstances of that fateful day. As the days stretch into weeks without answers, suspicions mount, and the search for the truth deepens, could there be more to this story than meets the eye?
His family is tossed between closure and hope, which is fading, about finding him. And they fervently pray that he's alive
My son is a good swimmer and he cannot drown in these waters, informed father of Bashudev Bhandari. Speaking to O Heraldo on Wednesday, the father and his brother have said that they cannot accept the theory of his drowning.
Balram, his brother, who is also camping in Goa with his father O Heraldo that his brother had come to Goa to celebrate his third anniversary of his relationship with his female companion.
He also informed that he was aware of their relationship for the last three years. According to him, Bashudev came to Goa on August 27 and had scheduled a return flight on August 2.
Balram has strongly claimed that police are only investigating based on the statement of the surviving girl, whereas there is absolute need to investigate this case by using the latest technology.
“We used to go for outings or vacations together to resorts, I know my brother is a good swimmer and can easily cross 40-50 meters. He used to work out daily and hence I have no doubt of his immunity,” Balram Bhandari, brother of Bashudev said while talking to Herald.
It may be recalled that, Bashudev Bhandari a businessman from Gujarat drowned at St Estevam ferry point while rent a cab along with his female friend on August 31. A female friend who is a student of a reputed management school managed to save herself while Bhandari, who is also a good swimmer, could not reach the bank of the river.
It’s been over 25 days and the Old Goa Police has no clue as he has not been found yet. the Sub Divisional Police Officer of Panjim, Sudesh Naik while speaking to Herald on Wednesday said that, Police are investigating the matter looking from all angles. He said that Bashudev Bhandari was present in that car till the ferry point as per the investigation of Old Goa Police.
Balram has raised the serious questions over the investigation of Old Goa Police stating that they could not satisfy them whether Bashudev was in the car, was driving the car or drowned along with the car. He further raised doubt on the statement of the GIM student who has survived from the accident. He said that the girl’s statement contradicts real time events, as per CCTV records.
“We got to know about the incident only in the afternoon whereas the girl’s family who were also from Gujarat were in Goa in the morning. How and for what reason have we been informed so late? That too by some third party and not the Goa Police. I don't have any doubt over Goa Police, they are fully cooperating with us but it is very sad that we don't find results,” said Narayan Bhandari, father of Bashudev.
Balram has said that one of the mobile phones of Bashudev rang and was received by someone on September 4 and this creates more suspicion over the missing of his brother and no traces.
However, SDPO Panjim, Sudesh Naik clarified the call which connected to Bashudev’s phone was a cross connection and could not be located.
He questions, “If my brother drowned, then where is the body? If we go by crocodile attack theory, then why is there not a single trace of clothes or any belongings?”
According to the local crocodile tour operator, there was no crocodile attack in the said river basin any time. He further said that crocodiles never attack a dead body of a human.