PANJIM:
The Additional Sessions Court granted conditional bail to Vitho Shinde, one of
the three accused in the murder of 90-year-old Honda-Sattari resident Bala Babu
Shinde.
The
prosecution had charged Vitho with kidnapping and strangulating Bala Babu. The
accused was also charged with destroying evidence by dumping the deceased’s
body in a forest at Malpan, Sattari.
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The
prosecution had chargesheeted Vitho, his brother Naguesh Shinde and one Suresh
Khaunekar for offences under sections 364 (kidnapping), 302 (murder), 201
(destruction of evidence) read with 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal
Code. The Shinde brothers were arrested from Maharashtra, from where they
originally hail.
Advocate
Galileo Teles, appearing for the accused in the bail matter, had argued that
the confession of the co-accused was inadmissible as evidence and there was no
other evidence connecting Vitho with the crime.
“In the
test identification parade conducted before the Mamlatdar of Valpoi, Vitho was
not identified which clearly shows that the applicant has been falsely
implicated by Valpoi Police,” he argued.
The
prosecution objected to the bail stating the accused’s release will affect
trial as he could threaten witnesses.
Judge
Vijaya Pol, releasing the accused directed him to furnish a surety for an
amount of Rs 25,000 and further directed him not to interfere with the
prosecution witnesses.
