Court pulls up police over lapses in Zenito’s arrest

QUESTIONED WHY PRIME ACCUSED'S FAMILY WASN'T GIVEN WRITTEN INTIMATION OF CHARGES @ CUSTODY EXTENDED OF ALL 8 ACCUSED BY 2 DAYS

- THE GOAN | NETWORK

The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Merces, has come down heavily on lapses by the police in the arrest of Zenito Cardozo, ‘prime accused’ in the assault on activist Rama Kankonkar, questioning why no written information was furnished to the family about the charges at the time of his arrest.

While extending Cardozo and seven other accused's police custody by two more days, the JMFC also pointed out that the arrest procedure must strictly comply with legal safeguards.

“The court cannot recall its own earlier order granting custody... Why was his (Cardozo) family now informed in writing about the arrest?” the magistrate questioned indicating procedural lapses.

During the hearing opposing Panaji police’s plea for extension of police custody, Cardozo’s lawyers argued that his arrest was illegal since neither he nor his family was informed in writing regarding the charges.