Team Herald
PANJIM: Mapusa JMFC Court heard the arguments on the bail application of Kukesh Rauta, accused in the sextortion case, on Wednesday and fixed the matter for an order on Thursday morning.
The court also issued a notice to the investigating officer and direct him to remain present.
During hearing for the bail, Kukesh Rauta’s counsel Advocate Kapil Kerkar contended that the bail should be granted on the ground that Supreme Court guidelines to serve accused 41(A) CrPC notice has been violated by the investigation officer.
Earlier, the court dismissed an intervention application filed by an Aldona voter, pleading to intervene in the bail application of Kukesh Rauta. The Aldona voter had sought to oppose the bail plea.
Speaking to reporters, Advocate Kapil Kerkar said, “The intervention application has been dismissed. The bail application has been argued and now the matter has been posted for tomorrow. Show cause notice has been issued to the investigation officer and he has been asked to be present in the court.”
Kerkar claimed that the investigating officer (IO) did not have power to arrest the accused.
“How can IO arrest him (the accused) when he does not have power to do so? The complaint has been filed now for an incident that happened around residenta year back. So there was no urgency to arrest him. Everything was available for one year but nothing was done and suddenly he was arrested that too in violation of the Supreme Court guidelines,” Kerkar said.