Grilled for four hours, likely to face four more days of questioning
Assagao demolition case main accused Pooja Sharma arrives for interrogation at Crime Branch in Ribandar.
Photo Credits: Narayan Pissurlenkar
PANAJI
After evading the Goa Police for nearly a month, Pooja Sharma -- accused in the Assagao house demolition case, finally appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch (CB) on Monday.
Her appearance follows an order by the Bombay High Court at Goa, which granted her anticipatory bail on the condition that she reports to the Investigation Officer at 10 am on Monday. Sharma, accompanied by her lawyer, arrived at the CB office with her face covered by a dupatta, sunglasses and a mask.
Sources told 'The Goan' that the SIT has summoned her for further questioning on Tuesday with her interrogation expected to last for the next 3-4 days. “She has many questions to answer regarding the allegations against her about the current case,” the source stated.
While officers did not disclose the specifics of the questions asked during the initial four-hour session, sources revealed that Sharma was questioned about her alleged directive to conspirator Arshad Khawaja to forcibly demolish the house and evict the Agarwadekar family.
The investigation team is also probing the alleged reconciliation between Sharma and the Agarwadekar family after the FIR, along with documents related to property ownership and other related details.
“The SIT will also inquire with her the reasons for non-compliance with three previous summons and her whereabouts during that period she was absconding,” the source said.
The High Court had slammed Sharma’s non-compliance with SIT-CB’s notices but acknowledged her request for time to appear for the investigation. As part of her anticipatory bail conditions, the High Court asked her to appear before the IO on Monday, July 22 in addition to other conditions.
The house partially demolished on June 22, exactly a month ago, saw some major developments including the transfer of Director General of Police Jaspal Singh - charged by his subordinate of pressurising him to take the case in favour of Sharma.
