Hostile witnesses: Govt’s 6 safe e-testimony sites to quell their fears

Panaji: With more and more witnesses turning hostile, leading to acquittals, state govt on Saturday designated six places across the state for the examination of a witness by audio-video electronic means.
As remote examination sites, govt has notified Goa Forensic Science Laboratory, Verna; the offices of district magistrates, Panaji and Margao; the Central Jail, Colvale; GMC, Bambolim; and North and South Goa District Hospitals at Mapusa and Margao.
Govt will install security devices in a witness’s home and conduct regular patrolling around their houses to prevent them from turning hostile. Govt will also hold in-camera trials and provide funds for witnesses for relocation, sustenance, or starting a new vocation or profession.
To this end, govt has notified the Goa Witness Protection Scheme, 2025.
State govt has sanctioned the use of audio-video electronic means, including audio-video proceedings recorded on the cell phone of the investigating officer in the police department, with a SIM card issued by the competent authority in Goa police.
The audio-video proceedings will be recorded by the investigating officer through a camera, digital camera, body-worn camera, tablet, drone (UAV or uncrewed aerial vehicle), audio recorder, computer, webcam, or any such other electronic recording equipment issued by the competent authority in Goa police.
Govt started implementing the new criminal laws — the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam — from July 2024. Govt was not able to provide public prosecutors as warranted by the number of courts, or adequate videoconference facilities so that the accused can attend a trial from the jail.
The state has 53 courts and 31 public prosecutors. Govt will now start the recruitment process to fill the remaining public prosecutor positions in line with the number of courts.
In all, 11 videoconference facilities are available at the Central Jail at Colvale, but considering the number of courts, govt will now have 53 videoconference facilities in the jail.
Goa police will ensure that property recovered from criminals is returned to the rightful owners in accordance with the provisions of the new criminal laws.