Fr Bolmax gets pre-jail bail

Colva: Additional sessions court Judge Kshama Joshi on Tuesday granted Fr Bolmax Pereira, parish priest of Chicalim, anticipatory bail in connection with his controversial statement on Chhatrapati Shivaj.

Last week, the Vasco police upon a complaint from Kiran Naik, booked Fr Pereira under Sections 504 (intentional insult with an intent to provoke breach of peace) and 295A (outrage to religious sentiment) of the Indian Penal Code. Section 295A attracts a punishment of three years. A complaint was also filed at the Canacona police station against Fr Pereira’s statement on the Maratha king.

Fr Pereira was booked after about 100 people, including members of the Bajrang Dal and Rajput Karni Sena, protested outside a police station, demanding action.

Apprehending arrest, Fr Pereira had filed for anticipatory bail.

Vasco police, in their reply to the anticipatory bail application, told the court that Fr Pereira’s custody is not required for the purpose of interrogation, but he may be directed to cooperate with the investigation

Judge Kshama directed the applicant to furnish a bail bond for an amount of Rs 20,000 with one surety of a like amount with detailed address proof of the applicant and the surety, and to make himself available before the investigating officer and the court as and when required and to co-operate with the investigation.