Canacona: Trouble mounts for Canacona-based liquor trader Ligorio D’Souza as the High Court in Gujarat allows investigating agency to take his custody during the investigation of the case filed against him under Prohibition Act.
The order came during the disposal of anticipatory bail application filed by Ligorio D’Souza recently. Ligorio was booked by Samakhiali Police Station June 2023 for allegedly supplying liquor to the dry State.
Ligorio was named by the accused who were found to be illegally carrying liquor amounting to Rs 45.70 lakh at Samkhiyali national highway in Gujarat. Two persons including driver Anil Maruti Tarde and Ramchandra Maruti Tarde, both are resident of Bamdoli, Tal. Jawali, Dis. Satara, State Maharashtra, were arrested and truck bearing registration number MH 11 AL 3714 was seized near Navjeevan Hotel on the highway.
The investigation in the matter had revealed that the racket runs across three states – Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat and Ligorio Desouza was allegedly the supplier of the illegal liquor.
While allowing the anticipatory bail application on November 8, the High Court in Gujrat has allowed investigation agency to take Ligorio on police remand.
“It would be open for the Investigating Agency to apply to the competent Magistrate, for police remand of the applicant. The applicant shall remain present before the learned Magistrate on the first date of hearing of such application and on all subsequent occasions, as may be directed by the learned Magistrate. This would be sufficient to treat the accused in the judicial custody for the purpose of entertaining application of the prosecution for police remand”, the order of HC Gujrat states.
HC also directed Ligorio to be present before the Investigation Officer on December 7 and cooperate with the investigation. Court has also asked Ligorio to surrender the passport and not leave the country without the permission of the court.
HC in its order has also asked Ligorio to inform investigation agency about his permanent address and not to change his residence till the disposal of the case.
In a bold letter in its order, HC has categorically stated that Ligorio shall not indulge in any illegal activity while on bail and shall not supply liquor in retail / wholesale in the State of Gujarat.
It may be recalled that Ligorio was booked by Goa Excise department in the year 2010 for operating illegal liquor unit near Goa-Karnataka border. According to Excise officials Ligorio was producing various brands of IMFL and being marketed in the Goa and Karnataka.
