CCTV footage of Souza Lobo vandalism shows staff of Planet Goa, Sunil Bhomkar and Gajendra Singh leading the attack

CALANGUTE, GOA: The CCTV footage collected by the police investigating the vandalism case at the Souza Lobo restaurant at Calangute shows the presence of the staff of Planet Goa and thugs from the Sunil Bhomkar and Gajendra alias Chotu Singh gangs.

Staff of Planet Goa and gangsters and goons who came with Sunil Bhomkar and Gajendra Singh are seen brandishing knives and lathis and throwing stones and soda water/aerated drink bottles at the staff of the Souza Lobo restaurant.

ALSO READ: Attack on Souza Lobo was ordered by a politician for Rs 3 crore election fund?

Contradicting the theory that the incident was a result of a fight between the staff of two restaurants, one of the waiters at Souza Lobo said, neither Bhomkar nor Singh have a restaurant or any business in the immediate vicinity of Souza Lobo, then what were they doing there and why were they attacking the staff of Souza Lobo with knives and sticks.

“It was a clear, unprovoked attack on the staff and premises of Souza Lobo at the insistence of some third parties who want to grab the property. They (Bhomkar, Gajendra Singh and Planet Goa staff) do not have any business nearby, at least not in the vicinity of a 100 meters. So the story floated around that the attack on the restaurant was a result of a fight between the staff is not true. This was a pre-planned, pre-mediated attack to terrorize the owners of Souza Lobo into selling their property to Delhi-based businessman Rajiv Arora and a local politician who wanted to take over the Souza Lobo business.” ALSO READ: Gajendra alias Chotu Singh operates 12 illegal ladies ‘dance’ bars in the Vagator-Candolim belt

According to sources, Planet Goa is owned by Alex and Jennifer Coutinho, who is the brother-in-law of the late Joseph Coutinho, who was notorious for all sorts of illegal activity in the coastal belt.

There is a long standing business rivalry between Souza Lobo and the owners of Planet Goa, who want to finish off the Souza Lobo brand. ALSO READ: Calangute PS collected Rs 30 to 35 lakh per month in bribes, ‘hafta’ claims ex-cop

Additionally, a local politician from Calangute who is in the hospitality biz, was keen on buying off the premises, which was resisted by the present owners, leading to a series of attacks on the iconic property.