PANJIM, JAN 18
A prime police witness in Israeli drug dealer David Driham alias Dudu case has complained to Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) that he is being threatened to withdraw from the case.
The panch witness, whose identity is kept confidential, in a letter dated January 15 to ANC and Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravindra Yadav, has said that two unknown persons, one of whom was a foreign national and other an Indian national threatened him.
“They pleaded for help and told me that the evidence should be in favour of the accused (Dudu) and to fumble during the cross-examination and when questioned by the lawyer in the Court. Failing this, they have threatened to harm me and family,” a crucial witness in the case said in his letter.
The incident happened when he was on his way back home when motorcycle borne youths threatened him.
“I declined their request. Now since they know the place of my stay, I fear they will harm me and my family,” he said adding that the two men refused to introduce themselves to him.
The witness has sought police protection from the department. When contacted ANC DySP Naresh Mhamal, said that they have forwarded the complaint letter to the High Court at Goa, little before Dudu’s bail order was pronounced on Tuesday.
He said that a copy of the witness’s complaint will be forwarded to NDPS Court at Mapusa where a chargesheet against Dudu is filed.
DIG Yadav was however not available for comments. Dudu was arrested from Anjuna in February 2011 by team of ANC officials and since then have been languishing in the jail.
He was arrested for possessing 144 ecstasy tablets weighing 55 grams worth Rs 1.10 lakh, Heroin powder weighing five grams worth Rs 15,000 6.5 grams of Cocaine worth Rs 30,000, 7.30 grams liquor LSD worth Rs 1.10 lakh and 1.165 grams of charas.
He has been earlier convicted in a case of overstaying.