PONDA: The High Court of Bombay at Goa will hear on August 14 the anticipatory bail applications of Mangueshi Temple priest Dhanajay Bhave, accused of molesting two girls.
Bhave is reported to be absconding after allegedly committing the crimes and it is perceived that police have been under political pressure to arrest him.
The police, however, have rubbished the allegations of any political pressure into the investigations.
According to Ponda PI Harish Marcaikar, who is the investigation officer said after receiving first complaint on July 19, police have been constantly following up the matter. The police had commenced preliminary
investigation, including recording of statement of Mumbai-based victim, soon after an FIR was filed against Bhave.
Rubbishing allegations of any lethargy in the investigation, the police said with the matter in court, necessary action will be taken against him as per the court verdict.
When asked what is the procedure to declare any accused as an absconder or evading arrest, South SP Arvind Gawas said that investigation officer in such case can issue a lookout notice, only after he finds that all efforts to trace the accused are exhausted. He said police will take necessary steps if accused is still untraceable.
He said the matter is in the High Court and police will take further action soon after court verdict.
Manguesh Devasthan president Chandrakant Dhume said, “If at all the incidents have happened I condemn the same and the guilty should be punished.”
It may be recalled that Bhave was booked in two separate cases under Section 354 (outraging modesty) of the IPC, after two victims in their separate complaints to the police had stated that Bhave had allegedly molested them near the sanctum sanctorum of the Mangueshi temple, when they were on a temple visit.
The complainants before going the police had approached the Shree Manguesh Devasthan Committee, which had said that it could not find any dependable evidence to establish a prima facie case against Bhave and had advised the victims to approach “appropriate authority” with their complaints.
The priest has been suspended from temple services following FIRs registered against him.
