Panaji: A Mapusa court has rejected bail to Rovina Pereira Lobo accused in the 2020 Siolim double murder of her husband’s two aunts. The court stated that having deposed against their own mother, the children remain vulnerable and exposed to threat including danger to their life as well as possibility of intimidation.Lobo filed her third bail application and told the court that she is a female who has been in custody since Nov 2020 and that she has health issues and that her children need her.She stated that her husband’s and children’s statements have been recorded and completed and that there is no chance she will threaten or tamper with any evidence.The public prosecutor J Santamaria said a surprise inspection revealed a mobile phone was found in her possession and added that the complainant received threats from her when he was being examined. She added that more witnesses are yet to be examined and neighbours are crucial witnesses. Her medical problems can be taken care of in jail, she argued.“In the instant case, there is no dispute that the accused no.1 is in custody since her arrest on Nov 16, 2020, however, considering the gravity of the offence and severity of punishment and that the child witnesses have deposed against the accused no.1 mother, I am of the view that the accused no.1 cannot be released on bail merely on the ground that she has been in custody since Nov 2020 or on the health grounds disclosed by her. No case is made out to release the accused no.1 on bail,” stated additional sessions judge, North Goa, Mapusa, Dvijple V Patkar.“The medical grounds urged are not of such a nature as to outweigh these grave concerns, particularly in the context of a heinous offence involving the alleged double murder of elderly aunts. In such circumstances, no case for the grant of bail is made out,” the court added.
