Team Herald
MARGAO: Vanita Gaonkar’s family and the NGO assisting Laadli Laxmi harassment and dowry death case have accused the Quepem Sub Divisional Magistrate, Shankar Gaonkar of leaking confidential details of report to the accused’s family. Citing conflicts of interests, Vanita’s family and the NGO have demanded that the case be transferred to another magistrate.
Meanwhile, Ganesh Gaonkar, the accused in the Vanita death case after complaining of stomach pain got himself admitted to the hospital.
A case under sections 498 A, 306, and 304 B has been registered against Ganesh, holding him responsible for the death of his daughter-in-law Vanita.
The bail application of Ganesh has been rejected and now he has re-applied for bail.
Rohit Gaonkar, Vanita brother, while raising doubts over the conduct of the case proceedings said, “There are some loopholes in the investigation, which prove that he (Shankar) is a relative of the accused family and is favouring them.”
Meanwhile, Tara Kerkar said, “The mother-in-law of the deceased Vanita applied for anticipatory bail on the same day when the report was submitted by the Magistrate.”
“The fact also proves that the mandatory secrecy of the report has also been possibly breached by the officer,” she charged.
The NGO and people of Quepem and Malkarnem have expressed surprise over the delay in the submission of the report in such a serious case.
“The conduct and delay by SDM has to be inquired into and it proves that the family of the accused are his relatives,” Kerkar alleged.
The SDM of Quepem couldn’t be contacted till late night on Wednesday.
