Panaji: The family of Merces panch member Prakash Naik, who allegedly shot himself, have refused to accept his body till the two persons whom he has named in a whatsapp message are arrested. They have also demanded that the investigation of the case should be handed over to Crime Branch.
Naik, who had contested the Assembly elections 2017 on a Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) ticket, allegedly shot himself at his residence in Merces, Friday morning. Police said that in a whatsapp message posted, he has named two persons to be responsible for his death
Speaking to media persons, Naik’s sister Akshaya Govekar said, “We want justice. We want the two persons named in the message to be arrested. Till then we will not even accept his body.”
Speaking further, she demanded that the investigation in the case should be handed over to Crime Branch.
“He will never commit suicide,” she said.
Another family member said, “I dont know if he was threatened, but he was being harassed.”
He said, “The two persons used to demand Rs 45 lakh from Naik and he used to receive calls continuosly. Nobody knows why this money was demanded. He was attacked on two occasions earlier. My brother has not committed suicide. He has been killed.”
Lashing out at the police, he said, “Yesterday the police took statement from me but did not take my signature. They did not even get a dog squad. When I asked them for a copy of my statement, they said it would be furnished later.”
He also said that the police have not yet called the two persons named in the message for inquiry.
Meanwhile, the police informed that the post mortem on the body has been conducted by a panel of doctors at Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim where his body has been preserved.