Goa: On the run, Zenito Cardozo finally surrenders before police

PANAJI: Zenito Cardozo, key conspirator in the June 20 Santa Cruz shootout case, surrendered before the SDPO in Panaji on Wednesday morning.
History-sheeter Cardozo had been untraceable and a police hunt across three states of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka had been launched. His bail plea was earlier rejected by the court.
“He surrendered today before us in presence of his lawyer. Accordingly, PI Old Goa has been instructed to take his custody and do the investigation,” Panaji SDPO Uttam Raut Dessai said.
Cardozo is wanted on the charge of ‘conspiracy’ under Section 120b of the IPC, Dessai said.
Cardozo is a history-sheeter involved in several cases over the years including murder, attempt to murder, gang wars and extortion. In 2013, he was detained under National Security Act, before being granted bail by the high court of Bombay at Goa.
More recently, Goa police had opposed his anticipatory bail application filed before the district court in Santa Cruz case, wherein one member of his gang had succumbed to gunshot injuries.
The shootout had taken place at the house of one Imran Bepari at Santa Cruz.
North Goa SP Utkrisht Prasoon had said that Cardozo is wanted in conspiracy behind the attempt to murder.
“During our investigation, we found that Cardozo has a role in the conspiracy,” Prasoon had said.