Russian’s rape: Officer heading investigations seeks transfer

A woman police officer heading investigations of the Russian girl rape case, involving a politician, has requested her transfer from the Crime Branch, official sources said today.

Panaji: A woman police officer heading
investigations of the Russian girl rape case, involving a
politician, has requested her transfer from the Crime Branch,
official sources said today.

Police Inspector Sunita Sawant, heading the rape case
investigation team, has written to her superiors requesting
her transfer to Goa Reserve Police (GRP), they said.

Sawant was handed over the case, in which a local
politician John Fernandes is accused of raping the 25-year old
victim in his car, on December 5. The accused is absconding
after his anticipatory bail was cancelled by the High Court.

John allegedly raped the Russian girl in his car by
offering her a lift back from Colva beach on the night of
December 1.

Sawant was apparently disturbed over increasing instances
of handing over of cases from local police stations to Crime
Branch, sources said.

She is currently investigating 24 important cases,
including one involving Goa Tourism Minister Fransisco
Pacheco, who allegedly had threatened a Casino management.
The Crime branch inspector is also a investigating sex
scandal in which two local girls had committed suicide
allegedly after they were blackmailed with their lewd tapes.

According to sources, Sawant has handed over her request
letter to Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Mangaldas
Sawant, who is yet to forward it to superiors.

The Goa crime branch is short staffed and is
investigating most crucial cases including series of temple
desecrations, a senior officer said.

-PTI

Zee News App: Read latest news of India and world, bollywood news, business updates, cricket scores, etc. Download the Zee news app now to keep up with daily breaking news and live news event coverage.