Panaji, Dec 19 (TOI): North Goa Principal District and Sessions Judge Irshad Agha on Tuesday adjourned to January 11, the matter of anticipatory bail application filed by social activist Aires Rodrigues in the alleged 2016 dual nationality case.

Stating that he has never applied in his own handwriting for Portuguese citizenship or passport, Rodrigues has sought court direction to the crime branch to produce his application form for Portuguese citizenship and passport.

On Tuesday, Rodrigues filed a 25-page reply to the` say’ of the investigating officer of the crime branch that was filed last week. In his reply, Rodrigues has reiterated that he is a citizen of India and has at no point of time surrendered his Indian citizenship. He has stated that he has reasonable ground to believe that on account of his animosity with the current chief minister, he has been falsely implicated in this case. He stated that on March 29, 2016 his five-page detailed statement was recorded by the crime branch and that he was surprised to receive a notice again after two long years.

He also has drawn the court’s attention to the letter of the superintendent of police, special branch on May 18, 2016 written to the Goa Passport Officer recommending that he be issued a passport as there was no criminal case against him.