Panaji: The Bombay High Court bench here
today rejected the bail plea of a south Goa based politician,
accused of raping a Russian girl at Colva beach last year.
A single bench comprising Justice Nelson Britto rejected
the bail petition filed by John Fernandes observing that the
girl had not yet testified in the rape trial, which is
currently on in the South Goa Sessions court.
The judge said that there was a possibility of the
accused interfering with the witness, if he is set free.
John, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2007 State
Assembly elections from Benaulim constituency, was arrested
last year for allegedly raping the 25-year-old victim, who was
working with a five star hotel in south Goa`s coastal belt.
She had met the accused at a shack at Colva beach in
December last year. As per her complaint, the accused spiked
her drinks and raped her after offering a lift back home.
Colva police had initially registered the case as an
attempt to rape. The section of rape was added when the case
was transferred to the crime branch.
Police Inspector Siddhant Shirodkar, who initially
investigated the case, was entangled in a controversy after
the victim complained to the Russian consulate that the
inspector had asked her to water down the complaint.
According to sources, the victim has left for Russia
after her mother fell ill, this year and is expected to return
this December and testify before the sessions court.
judicial custody.
Bureau Report
