from Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)
Panaji, Oct 22: The State police will review the rape case against education minister Atanasio Monserratte’s elder son Rohit as the victim girl is not coming forward to depose before the police, officials stated.
“The girl is not willing to depose. In this situation, it is difficult for us to proceed with the case. We will review the entire case as seven days have passed over it,” Superintendent of Police (North) Bosco George said.
Rohit (21) was booked for rape, outraging modesty, abetting crime and sending lewd messages to 14-year-old German girl. The mother had lodged a police complaint on October 2, which was taken cognizance only on October 14.
Since then, Rohit is missing and girl is unwilling to depose before the police or get herself medically examined.
The police had commissioned services of NGO and psychiatrists to get the girl depose in this case as her statement is vital. The police are saying that they have no concrete evidence against the accused sans girl’s statement.
The case had snowballed into political controversy with the minister putting in all his weight behind his son. Senior ministers in Digamber Kamat-led cabinet including Churchill Alemao, Aleixo Sequeira had also stood by Monserratte.
“We will have now to review the case to decide which sections to drop and what course to follow,” George, who is heading the investigations, said.
The police have thrown broad hints that grave sections against Rohit may be dropped.
Although the girl is unwilling to get medically examined, parent’s consent is enough for investigators to get girl examined. George said that even mother has not given her consent for medical examination of her daughter.
The charges against Rohit were brought in public by German mother on October 10 when she addressed a press conference with her lawyer Aires Rodrigues.
The mother, who is a German researcher and on long-term visa in Goa, had alleged that the girl was sexually and mentally harassed by Rohit.
Police, who had booked Rohit, had also charged the minister of abetment of crime as the cell phone used in the case was in his name.
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