A local court in Goa has granted permission to an accused builder, Shripad alias Paresh Sinai Sawardekar, to travel abroad for a holiday next month. Sawardekar is alleged to have been driving the Mercedes-Benz SUV that was involved in a tragic accident in Banastarim on August 6, 2023, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.
Court Approves Travel Application
The accused submitted an application to the court stating his wish to travel to Cambodia via Thailand between January 9 and 18. While the assistant public prosecutor opposed the plea, citing concerns about the accused potentially absconding and the need for his presence during the trial, the court ruled in favor of Sawardekar.
The judicial magistrate first class, A Court Ponda, Carlo Santana da Silva, observed that an individual's liberty cannot be curtailed without proper reason merely because a chargesheet is pending. The court emphasized that every person holds the right to travel abroad.
Reasoning Behind the Decision
The court's decision was influenced by Sawardekar's past compliance with judicial conditions. The order noted that the accused has a clean record of obeying court orders and has fulfilled all conditions imposed on him by various courts in relation to his previous applications for foreign travel.
"The record indicates that the Applicant has a clean record when it comes to obeying the orders of the court," the court stated. It further added, "The court is conscious of the fact that every person has a right to travel abroad. The court cannot and must not, without any proper reason, curtail the liberty of a person, especially when the court is conscious of the fact that this trial will take at least a reasonable time to complete."
Previous Travel Permission
This is not the first time the accused has been allowed to travel overseas since the incident. In October of last year, the court had similarly permitted him to travel to Spain for a family holiday. The consistent approval of such applications underscores the court's current stance on balancing the rights of the accused with the requirements of the ongoing legal process related to the Banastarim accident.
The case continues as the legal proceedings regarding the fatal Mercedes-Benz SUV crash move forward, with the next significant development being the accused's return from his approved international trip in mid-January.
