Mahanand acquitted in 3rd murder case
PTI, PANAJI | 31 March 2010 19:46 IST

Mahanand Naik
Goa’s notorious serial killer Mahanand Naik was yesterday acquitted in a third consecutive case of murder by local court.
Known as a dubpatta killer, Mahanand has been charged with killing 14 women in 15 years. Strangulating his ‘lover' with dupatta and killing her was his modus operandi.Additional District and Sessions court judge Desmond D'Costa acquitted 40-year-old Mahanand of the charges of killing Nirmala Amonkar, a woman in her late 20s, found dead on a plateau in Verna village, 15 kms away from here.
Police have claimed that Mahanand, an alleged serial killer, put to death 14 women in 15 years beginning from 1995 before he was netted, mid-last year.
In the case acquitted today, he was prosecuted for murdering Nirmala Amonkar sometimes around February 19, 2008, the day when she left her house in Rivona village in South Goa.
Her highly decomposed body was found at Verna on February 24.
The court acquitted Mahanand from the charges as the police were not able to establish the offence against him.
This is the third consecutive acquittal for Mahanand, who would be charged for 14 counts of murder.
Earlier in the beginning of this year, he was acquitted of killing Bhagu Upaskar, a woman from rural Ponda taluka and subsequently in the first week of March, he was acquitted of killing Surat Gaonkar.
Police had claimed that Mahanand used to lure the young women with the promise of getting married to them and execute them by strangulating with their dupatta.
The accused was arrested by police, by chance, after a young woman filed a complaint of rape against him. During the custodial interrogation, Mahanand, allegedly confessed of killing over a dozen woman during last one and half decade in Goa.
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What are the Brilliant IPS officers doing ???
Taking a nice salary all perks and then standing next to the CM or Higher UPs for the next promotion ... if this is the case of educated brass of the force, then these Inspectors and Constables .. are not even worth talking about.
- Amit, Goa | 15 th April 2010 02:57
When you have Police Officers brilliant, brave & daring like Manjunath Desai who are experts in arresting two or three young kids under section 41 of Cr. P. C., boys who out of sheer excitement and enthusiasm land in Ponda at night on their way to an orchestra. The reason of arrest under section 41: They were carrying a water bottle which according to Manjunath Desai was a nuclear bomb. But he has neither the brains nor skills to investigate the cases of murderers like Mahanand who get acquitted for every crime. I challenge Manjunath and his likes to get Mahanand convicted by going for an appeal to the high court or the Supreme Court. These money making officers like Manjunath Desai can never investigate the cases properly and then the courts are blamed for acquitting the accused – This is the figure of majority of the Police Officers of Goa Police Force. Thanks Menino (Valpoi)
- Menino G. P. T. Fernandes (Valpoi/UK), United Kingdom of Great Britain | 11 th April 2010 13:48
This is the real height of our LAW n ORDER situation in the country, specialy in GOA. When Mahanand was arrested in a murder cases, media had projected him as a VILIAN on the basis of information provided by the POLICE department. But it seems police will not be able to clear a single case registered against Mahanand. This shows how efficient our police department is and how safe we are in our democracy.
- Vivek Naik, Margao | 01 st April 2010 21:04
Knowing political games (puppet shows, tug-of-wars, and musical kodels) played in Goa, I won't be surprised if in a 'natak', Mahanand becomes a tragic hero on a stage.
- Kalidas Sawkar, Goa-India | 01 st April 2010 11:46
The common man wonders as to how the investigating agencies work? Is it that an innocent person is charged of the crimes or is it that a criminal is allowed to escape by keeping loopholes in the case?
- vishwas prabhudesai, loliem | 01 st April 2010 09:11
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