Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Dec 14: A Mapusa court has denied bail to 37-year-old Rizwan Hussain, arrested in October in connection with the death of a woman. Authorities allege that Hussain administered a substance in the victim’s drinks, causing her to lose consciousness, after which she was declared dead at the hospital. The victim’s brother also reported complaints of sexual harassment and caste-based abuse.

Hussain was reportedly the last person with the woman in his Candolim flat, where they had stayed together for two days. The court noted that the case involves serious offences and is still in the preliminary stage of investigation. Tablets and liquid collected from the scene have been sent for expert testing, and the results are pending.

“Investigation is at a stage where the offence of attempt to murder could potentially turn into murder, depending on the substance involved. In such circumstances, the applicant cannot be granted bail as a thorough investigation is required given that a woman’s life has been lost,” said Additional Sessions Judge Artikumari Naik.

Hussain’s lawyer, advocate M Nazareth, argued that being the last person seen with the victim does not prove he administered any substance. Public prosecutor Coleman Rodrigues countered that the preserved viscera is awaiting testing and warned that releasing Hussain could risk tampering with medical evidence.