HC upholds life term in Mandar murder case

PANJIM: High Court has upheld the life imprisonment of Rohan Dhungat, Jovito Ryan Pinto, Nafiyaz Sheikh and Shankar Tiwari in the infamous Mandar Surlakar murder case of 2006.

In its judgment, the Division Bench of Justices Prithviraj Chavan and MS Sonak, said that the life imprisonment of the accused is upheld. However, the HC also further upheld Children’s Court orders extending the benefit of Section 428 of CrPC for remission by the Executive authority.

“Criminal Appeal No.64/2014 is disposed of without interfering with the directions issued by the Children’s Court, extending the benefit of Section 428 CrPC to accused but by clarifying that the benefit of such set-off can be availed by A.1 to. A.4 only in the event the appropriate authority makes orders for remission or commutation”, the judgment stated.

As per the available information, the case dates back to August 14, 2006 when the victim, Mandar Surlakar, was abducted by the accused and taken to Ucassaim to the residence of one of the accused. Here, the accused persons assaulted and tied down the victim with ropes and forced him to record a message for his father to pay ransom, without reporting the matter to the police. The same day, a demand was made to the victim’s father for ransom of Rs 50 lakhs. The victim’s father thereupon, rushed to the Vasco Police. 

On the next day, August 15, the body of victim was 

discovered at Alra Keri, near Ponda. The victim was found to be killed by strangulation and assaulted with baseball bats on his head. The post-mortem reports confirmed homicidal death.

Police had arrested five persons in the case. Since, the victim was less than 18 years of age on the date of his abduction and murder, cognizance of the offence was taken by the Children’s Court. During the course of investigations, Al Saleha Beig turned approver and disclosed details of the conspiracy and its execution. He was pardoned by the Children’s Court.

In all, the Prosecution had examined 57 witnesses in the matter.

The four accused have been serving their sentences in the Central Jail at Colvale.