Team Herald
PANJIM: With a local court turning down the anticipatory bail of two absconding accused in the Saligao robbery case, Crime Branch (CB) sleuths are now relying on their interrogation to unearth the balance stolen money.
The Additional Sessions Court rejected the anticipatory bail application of Vinit Shet and Pritesh Mayenkar on Monday while two arrested accused – Antonio Paulo D’Cruz and Sameer Satardekar – have been remanded to 14 days judicial custody.
The investigating team, headed by PI Dattaguru Sawant, had recovered Rs 14 lakh cash in Rs 2000 denomination notes last Wednesday from an apartment at Duler, Mapusa. While only a partial amount has been recovered, CB is yet to trace the remaining amount allegedly hidden by those absconding.
Crime Branch Superintendent Umesh Gaonkar said the accused, during interrogation, feigned ignorance about where the Rs 24 lakh has been hidden. “The accused are unaware where the balance amount is. Shet and Mayenkar might give us a lead,” he said, after the interrogation.
CB had arrested D’Cruz, Satardekar, Raju Mithale and Siddesh Fatarpekar for conniving with Shet and Mayenkar to commit the offence last month. Mithale and Fatarpekar, whose judicial custody was extended last week, were granted conditional bail on Monday.
The court has directed them not to leave Goa and not to interfere with the case investigation and the witnesses.
In a fresh revelation, the role of a police inspector has come to the fore with allegations that the accused had bribed him.
Late Monday night Vikas Naik, Police constable and absconders Vinit Shet and Pritesh Mayekar were arrested for their involvement in the robbery case under sections 120-B and 395 of the IPC.
