Daijiworld Media Network - Mapusa

Mapusa, Mar 4: A court in Mapusa has transferred to the Sessions Court a criminal case in which a local businessman is accused of biting off a portion of his rival’s ear during a violent altercation at the town’s KTC bus stand, observing that the gravity of the offence warrants trial before a higher court.

In an order dated March 2, Judicial Magistrate Jude Torex Sequeira noted that the offence under Section 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as cited in the chargesheet, is exclusively triable by a Court of Sessions. Exercising powers under Section 209 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the Magistrate committed the matter to the Principal Sessions Court, North Goa, and remanded the accused to judicial custody pending trial.

The accused, Sameer alias Shankar Pednekar, a resident of Khorlim in Mapusa, remains in custody and has been directed to be produced before the Principal Sessions Court, North Goa, on March 16 for further proceedings.

According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on December 30, 2025, at around 8.15 pm at the KTC bus stand in Mapusa. Police said the clash stemmed from an ongoing rivalry in the bike rental business.

Pednekar allegedly abused and threatened Nitesh Khanolkar (43) of Bastora before assaulting him with slaps, punches and kicks. Investigators further claim that the accused bit the victim’s left ear pinna, causing grievous injury.

The case registered by the Mapusa Police Station includes charges under Sections 110, 118(2) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The matter will now proceed before the Sessions Court for trial.