from Rubiya Shaikh
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (CN)

Panaji, Aug 26: The bench of the Bombay High Court of Goa will decide on Tuesday September  9, whether Divya Rane will have to step into the witness box in the criminal case filed by 'Utt Goenkara', spokesman Aires Rodrigues against her husband Vishwajeet Rane, health minister of Goa, on charges of threatening to kill.

Justice A Britto,  on Monday August 25,  heard the petition filed by Rodrigues challenging the order of Edgar Fernandes, judicial magistrate first class (JMFC), Panaji. refusing to issue summons to Divya Rane and police inspector Vishwesh Karpe.

Justice Britto, modifying the order of the JMFC, has allowed Rodrigues to examine Karpe as a witness in the case, while adjourning the matter of Divya Rane for later. It may be recalled that Vishwajeet Rane had strongly opposed before the JMFC, Rodrigues' application to issue summons to Divya Rane and Vishwesh Karpe.

Karpe, then police inspector in Old Goa, had registered an FIR against Vishwajeet Rane, 22 days after  Rodrigues filed a complaint on July 31, that while he was at his office he received a call on his mobile from Vishwajeet Rane who said, 'This is Vishwajeet Rane. Be careful. I will have you shot.'

The health minister, who had initially stated that he did not even know Rodrigues and denied having made the call, made a volte face on interrogation and confessed to the Old Goa police of having made the call from his wife, Divya Rane's mobile.

Rodrigues had also objected to Karpe's interrogating Vishwajeeet and Divya Rane in the comfort of their residence and not at the police station. In his petition to the high court Rodrigues has pointed out that Divya Rane has a key role in the proceedings as the call was made from her phone, and also stressed the need to establish whether she was present when the call was made.