Cops file chargesheet, Elano faces jail term

PANAJI: The Goa Police have completed investigations into the alleged assault of FC Goa co-owner Dattaraj Salgaocar by Chennaiyin FC captain Elano Blumer and filed the chargesheet. Elano was accused of assaulting and Goa co-owner abusing the FC Goa co-owner after a calamitous Indian Super League (ISL) final at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on December 20. Elano was arrested immediately after the final - which Chennaiyin FC dramatically won 3-2 - and released on bail after a four-hour ordeal at the Margao police station.
The police have since investigated the incident and found "very clear evidence" that Dattaraj was abused and assaulted.
"It is very clear by evidence that Dattaraj was assaulted. The chargesheet is filed and now it will be presented before the court," Margao police inspector CL Patil told TOI on Monday.
Elano has been charged under section 341 (wrongful restraint), 334 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace). While the first offence is cognisable, the other two are non-cognisable.
According to police sources, the 71-page chargesheet includes statements from 15 witnesses, among them FC Goa co-owner Shrinivas Dempo, FC Goa CEO Sukhvinder Singh and two FC Goa players, both from Goa, the identities of whom have not been revealed.
The police have also relied heavily on medical reports that established the assault. According to the pictures attached to the chargesheet, it shows a patch of blue on Dattaraj's rib cage, which the police believe could possibly be from an elbow shove from the Brazilian midfielder.
If convicted, Elano faces a year in jail, said another police official.