PONDA: Tension rent the air at Mardol on Tuesday as hundreds of furious Divar locals launched a morcha on the Mardol Police Station and gheraoed police demanding the arrest of the woman who they insisted was driving the Mercedes on Sunday night, which killed three innocent people at Banastarim.
They alleged that the woman was responsible for killing three people.
The locals demanded that the woman driver be arrested by 12 noon failing they threatened to intensify their agitation.
The locals demanded that the police screen through the phone call details between the husband and wife after the accident.
DySP Ashish Shirodkar assured the locals of initiating action against the woman and asked them to bring witnesses. The locals accused the police of shielding the woman due to political pressure.
They insisted that since an eyewitness has given a statement that the woman was driving the Mercedes; the police should immediately arrest her. The locals also questioned if the police found the woman in the driver’s seat then why did they fail to conduct her medical test?
The locals accompanied by local MLA Rajesh Faldessai met Ponda DySP Ashish Shirodkar and PI Mohan Gaude at Mardol Police Station.
The police said that based on the statement of eyewitnesses they arrested Paresh Sawardekar.
MLA Rajesh Faldessai assured the locals that the guilty will be punished and that he would raise the issue in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
Court rejects bail plea of Paresh
PONDA: The Additional District and Sessions Court, Panjim, sitting at Ponda on Tuesday dismissed the bail application of Shripad alias Paresh Sawardekar, arrested in the horrific Banastarim accident on Sunday night.
He was arrested on the charge of overspeeding and causing the death of three persons at Banastarim on Sunday late evening.
Earlier the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Ponda had on Monday remanded Sawardekar to two days police custody, which ends on Wednesday.
Arguing on behalf of the applicant, senior advocate S Lotlikar said that the police investigation was over and that the police were silent on the accused’s physical custody.
He said that the applicant is ready to cooperate with the investigation. He further told the court that the applicant has driver to drive his car and that the e-challans referred in the police say were issued against the driver and prayed that the applicant be granted bail.
Public Prosecutor S Samant submitted that the applicant drove his Mercedes car rashly and negligently under the influence of alcohol. The medical report of the applicant indicates that he had in his blood 94 mg/100ml of alcohol at the time of the accident. He knew he was drunk but still drove the car rashly and negligently and killed three persons on the spot and caused serious injuries to others.
Referring to six e-challans issued to the applicant for overspeeding, PP Samant said it speaks volumes about his past antecedents. He further said that the offence under Section 304 of the IPC is punishable with life or 10 years imprisonment. The investigation is at a preliminary stage and the statements are yet to be recorded. The accused is an influential person and is released, he may tamper with the evidence.
