Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Apr 14: In a major blow to the credibility of Goa Police, a local court has flagged serious lapses in the investigation of the high-profile murder case of Vasco resident Gayatri Marathe, ultimately leading to the collapse of the case during the framing of charges.

The court observed that the police’s reliance on CCTV footage and identification through photographs, instead of conducting a formal test identification parade (TIP), was not legally valid. As a result, the evidence presented was deemed insufficient to proceed with the trial.

According to police, CCTV footage from the area near the victim’s residence captured two individuals loitering near the house on the day of the murder. Photos taken from the footage were later shown to witnesses who claimed to have seen the suspects in the vicinity. However, the court ruled that such photo identification does not meet the standards required under law to establish the identity of the accused.

Police defended their decision not to conduct a TIP, arguing that since the suspects' photographs had already been shown to witnesses during the investigation, holding a parade later would serve no purpose. “Once the witnesses had already seen the photographs and identified the suspects, there was no point in conducting a TIP,” the police stated in a reply submitted during the recently concluded Assembly session.

However, the court was unconvinced. In its remarks, the judge noted: “The faces of the two persons in the footage cannot be seen clearly. Therefore, it cannot be conclusively said that the individuals seen in the video are the accused.”

Adding to the police’s woes, the investigation was also criticised for failing to establish a motive for the murder. The lapses extended to procedural shortcomings, including the filing of the chargesheet without consulting the Directorate of Prosecution, a mandatory step in cases of such gravity.

The entire investigation, including its supervision by senior officials, has come under scrutiny, with the court’s observations raising questions over the competence and legal preparedness of the state police force.

With the case failing to hold in court, legal experts have now called for a thorough review of the investigation process and better adherence to judicial protocols in handling sensitive criminal cases.