MAPUSA : The main accused in the case of dacoity of Rs 10.20 lakh from Baga-Calangute, Deepak Gadekar, who was in the judicial custody for the past 18 days, was on Thursday granted conditional bail by the Additional District and Sessions Court judge P V Sawaikar.
Gadekar was granted bail against a personal bond of Rs 20,000 and one surety in the like amount and on a condition that he would co-operate in the investigation.
It may be recalled that a businessman Karthik Kotiam, who wanted to exchange Rs 10.20 lakh in new currency for demonetised notes, for Rs 6 lakh extra, was allegedly called for a meeting by Gadekar at a hotel in Baga while his four accomplices were waiting in a car. Gadekar allegedly snatched the bag containing the notes and fled the site while his accomplices tried to kidnap the businessman and his friend but the plan failed.
In this connection, Kotiam had filed a complaint with the Calangute police, and on December 17, the police had arrested Gadekar, head constable Keshav Naik and police constable Mahendra Mandrekar.
The crime branch had later arrested three other accused Atmaram Malwankar (31), Gautam Korgaonkar (31), and Pritesh Agarwadekar (21) in the case.