Rupesh Samant
Panaji, May 2: Israeli national Yaniv Benaim alias Atala, who was arrested earlier this week by Uttarakhand police for trying to sneak into Nepal, has been on the run as per Goa Police after he assaulted a foreign national.
Benaim along with two other foreign nationals has been wanted in connection with the case of assault on a Russian national Eduard Goryachev at Anjuna Police station in North Goa.
He was booked for assault along with two other Russians Maxim Litronov and Denis, both of whom are still absconding, a senior police official said on Thursday.
Benaim has filed anticipatory bail application before Principal Sessions Judge Irshad Agha which will be heard on May 7.
Police have told the court that Benaim is also booked in various other cases under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and Foreigners Act.
Anjuna Police sub inspector Stanley Gomes who is investigating the case has told the court on April 30 that all the three accused are on the run.
Police have submitted that due to non-arrest of all the three accused, witnesses of the case are fearing to give their statement.
In his statement before court, Gomes has said that Benaim has been living in Goa without valid visa as per the records of Foreigners Registration office of state police.
Police have said that Benaim is wanted in custody to recover the weapon which he used for assault and also to know whereabouts of other two accused.
Praying to dismiss his anticipatory bail application, Gomes has said that the accused do not respect the law of land.
However, advocate Swapnil Nasnodkar, a lawyer representing Benaim, has told the court during arguments earlier this week that his client has been framed in the assault case.
He also has said that since Benaim has filed anticipatory bail, he could not be considered as absconding as he is before the court.
Nasnodkar has also refused that any criminal case has been pending against his client.
Goa Police on Wednesday have sent a team to Uttarakhand on Wednesday to bring back Benaim.