Two witnesses back down, court acquits car driver

Panaji: A north Goa court acquitted the driver of a car involved in an alleged rash and negligent driving case wherein a 50-yr-old pedestrian had sustained head injuries as two witnesses did not support the panchanama and admitted to signing it at the police station.

The incident took place in 2018 at Calangute. The accused, Dayanand Kandolkar was proceeding towards Calangute from Candolim in his Santro car when the incident occurred.

“Two witnesses did not support the panchanama. Both maintained that it was signed at the police station,” the court held.

It further held that the evidence of the third pancha witness was also not of much help to the prosecution. The court found no incriminating evidence against the driver.

The complainant, the nephew of the accident victim, said he didn’t witness the accident. He informed the court that his uncle was unable to come to the court due to immobility besides ailments in his vision.

The court stated that the complaint was based on hearsay evidence and hence cannot be believed.

Advocate S Thanekar argued on behalf of the accused while additional public prosecutor S Talawnekar represented the state.