Contends a well-planned strategy; seeks custody of absconding accused
PANAJI
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Crime Branch (CB) has identified the absconding accused Pooja Sharma as the kingpin behind the entire Assagao house demolition saga, contending it was a well-planned strategy.
Contesting the anticipatory bail plea filed by Sharma, the CB sleuths claimed that she masterminded the eviction of the Agarwadekar family from their home, and hired goons and an excavator to demolish the structure.
In their submission before the Sessions Court on Wednesday, the CB stated that while Sharma’s name appears in Form I and XIV, the Agarwadekar family produced documents including an affidavit, a no-objection certificate for obtaining electricity and water connections, and a house receipt from the Assagao village panchayat paid by Pradeep Agarwadekar.
“The offence committed by the applicant (Pooja Sharma) is serious wherein goons were hired by the applicant accused to demolish complainant’s (Agarwadekar family) residential house in broad daylight using excavator machines and bouncers. The offence has instilled fear in the local community and disrupted peace and tranquillity,” reads the nine-page submission, copy of which is in possession of The Goan.
Claiming that the source of money paid to the hired bouncers needs to be investigated, the CB further sought her custody while also stating that she conspired with a known criminal to execute the crime.
“The investigation of this case is at a crucial stage, and other absconding accused are yet to be arrested. The applicant conspired with other accused, who are notorious criminals and history sheeters. Javed is a habitual offender with cases of kidnapping, assault, attempted murder, and violations of the Arms Act, etc registered against him in various police stations in Goa,” it stated.
Insisting on her arrest and police custody, the CB also claimed that the crime was a well-planned strategy involving the hiring of an excavator and bouncers to demolish the complainant’s house.
“There are a lot of twists and turns in the case since the registration of the offence, therefore an in-depth investigation is necessary for which the presence of Sharma in police custody is required,” the CB said, adding that the demolition was carried out without permission from the competent authority.
Arshad Khawaja, the conspirator in the case, has confessed to the CB that his son Akbar had shown the property to Pooja Sharma. Accordingly, Sharma purchased the property from Chris Pinto and a sale deed was executed between them. Six out of eight accused including Khawaja are currently on bail.
