Police file chargesheet in 2024 bizman drowning case

Panaji: The crime branch of Goa police filed a chargesheet against two persons in connection with the alleged drowning of a 22-year-old businessman from Gujarat, Bashudev Bhandari.

He drowned after the car he was driving fell into the river from the ferry ramp at St Estevan on the Marcela side.

The incident took place in Sep 2024, but to date, Goa police could not recover the body.SP crime branch Rahul Gupta said a chargesheet was filed against the accused persons—Yaseen Shaikh, 33, and Mohammad Gous, 32, both residents of Belagavi—under Section 125 for act endangering life or personal safety of others, under Section 126(2) for wrongful restraint, under Section 351(3) for criminal intimidation, read with Section 3(5) for common intention of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.Gupta said that it is alleged that the accused followed the victim’s car closely and persistently. Bashudev was in the car with a friend, Mausum Patel. Upon reaching the ferry ramp at Tolto, the car was unable to reverse due to an obstruction caused by the four-wheeler. Bashudev steered his vehicle towards the left of the ferry ramp, causing the car to plunge into the river and sink.Gupta said that while Mausum managed to escape, Bashudev went missing following the incident, which was reportedly triggered by a case of road rage and criminal intimidation.

Initially investigated by Old Goa police station, the case was later transferred to the crime branch.“The sunken car was recovered, and personal belongings of Bashudev, including a mobile phone initially reported missing, were found inside the vehicle. However, despite extensive and sustained search operations, he could not be located,” Gupta said.“Based on the evidence— including documentary records, technical analysis, and witness statements — the crime branch suspects that Bashudev drowned in the river on the night of the incident,” Gupta said.Gupta said, “The investigation agencies could not adduce the provisions of culpable homicide since the body had not yet been recovered. In criminal cases, recovery of the body is essential to prove the physical death of the person.”