Team Herald
Panjim: Land-grabbing accused Siddiqui alias Suleman Khan wants the high-profile case transferred to the CBI, his counsel told O Heraldo on Friday, claiming that crucial documents and evidence are stored at Siddiqui’s residence in Karwar, which has been sealed by the SIT (Land Grabbing).
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Salman Kadir Pathan, Siddiqui’s lawyer, said that he plans to file a writ petition in the Goa High Court seeking the transfer of the case to CBI. An application requesting permission for Afasana (wife of Siddiqui-Presently on conditional bail) to travel to Karwar, Karnataka, is currently pending before the North Goa District Court, with an order expected on
February 17.
Additionally, an appeal has been filed before JMFC Panjim to unseal Siddiqui’s house and retrieve the necessary documents for filing the writ petition in the
High Court.
This curious turn of events in this explosive case – where the accused himself is demanding a CBI inquiry – has again brought into question the integrity of Goa Police’s investigation. However, the Goa government has so far shown no signs of addressing the clamour for a central probe in a case that has raked up the names of senior politicians and police top brass.
What makes the calls for a CBI probe even stronger are Siddiqui’s claims that he was tortured and held at gunpoint to shoot a viral video that claimed to implicate Opposition leaders.
Critics argue that if the allegations of custodial torture and intimidation hold any truth, the case is no longer just about land grabbing but about police impunity and political protectionism.
Senior advocate and AAP leader Amit Palekar has reiterated that Siddiqui’s statement proves that the second video, which was allegedly created under duress, was fabricated. “The Goa government must act decisively to ensure a free, fair, and impartial probe. Handing over the case to a central agency like the CBI is the logical step to restore public confidence and uncover the truth,” Palekar said.
Goa Congress leader Sunil Kawthankar has gone a step further, stating that the revelation exposes the “ugly side of failed law and order in the state.” He has accused the police of behaving like “professional criminals” by allegedly facilitating Siddiqui’s custodial escape and later coercing him to name political opponents.
Goa’s Recent History of CBI Investigations
Goa has witnessed similar high-profile cases being transferred to the CBI in the past, largely due to public outrage and judicial intervention. The infamous Scarlett Keeling death case, the police-politician-drug mafia nexus involving Israeli drug lords Atala and Dudu, and other politically sensitive cases were all handed over to the central agency only after sustained pressure.
Given this precedent, legal experts and activists argue that the Siddiqui case fits the pattern of an investigation that demands independent scrutiny.
“If the state police themselves are under the scanner, how can they be expected to conduct a fair investigation?” asked a senior Police Officer on the condition of anonymity, adding that “denying a CBI probe in this case only strengthens suspicions of a cover-up.”
Call for Political Accountability
The role of one BJP MLA has also come under scrutiny, with opposition leaders demanding his immediate resignation to ensure a fair investigation. “If the MLA is named in this controversy and the police are accused of shielding those in power, then this is no longer just a law-and-order issue—it is a constitutional crisis,” Kawthankar said.
The First Accused in Goa to Demand a CBI Probe
What makes this case unprecedented is that Siddiqui, an accused himself, is actively demanding a CBI probe, alleging that the police are plotting his murder. This has raised serious questions about whether law enforcement agencies in Goa are serving justice or working as enforcers for political and criminal interests.
