Panaji, June 7: Congress Leader Sunil Kawthankar has written to Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the suspicious death of 22-year-old Samuel Braganza and expressing serious concerns over the credibility of the ongoing investigation.

In his letter, Kawthankar stated that Samuel’s death has raised significant questions among the people of Goa regarding the circumstances leading to his demise. He pointed out that findings from the post-mortem examination reportedly revealed fractures and other injuries on Samuel’s body, further intensifying public suspicion surrounding the case.

The letter notes that Samuel had reportedly been present at a police station shortly before his alleged suicide, making it imperative that the matter be investigated through a thorough, impartial, and independent process capable of commanding public confidence.

Kawthankar also criticized the Goa Government’s decision to appoint SP Vishvesh Karpe to investigate the case. According to him, the appointment has further eroded public trust because Karpe himself has faced allegations in the past relating to police brutality and abuse of authority.

Referring to a previous case during Karpe’s tenure as Police Inspector at Anjuna Police Station, Kawthankar stated that he had been accused of assaulting and unlawfully detaining a complainant. He further claimed that the Goa Human Rights Commission found merit in the allegations and that the High Court subsequently directed action based on the Commission’s findings.

“In such circumstances, entrusting him with the investigation of a case involving allegations of police misconduct raises a clear conflict of interest and creates a perception of bias,” the letter states.

Emphasizing the principle that “justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done,” Kawthankar argued that any investigation led by an officer whose conduct has previously been questioned is unlikely to inspire confidence among Samuel’s family or the general public.

He has urged the Chief Minister to immediately recommend a CBI inquiry, stating that an independent agency free from local pressures and influences would be best positioned to uncover the truth and ensure justice.

Kawthankar further said that the growing public outrage over the case extends beyond the death of a single individual and concerns broader issues of accountability, institutional integrity, and public faith in the rule of law.

Concluding the letter, he appealed to the Goa Government to act decisively in the interest of truth, justice, and public confidence by facilitating an independent investigation into the matter.