Goa rape: Education minister's son surrenders
Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Goa
PANAJI, Nov 4: Capping the one month long saga over German minor rape case, Goa Education Minister Atanasio Monserratte's son Rohit today surrendered to the police and was later arrested.
German mother had complained to Calangute Police on October 2 that Rohit had raped her daughter. Subsequently, state public works department Minister Churchill Alemao's nephew Warren's name was also roped in the rape case by the mother.
Monserratte today handed over his son to the police at 12.50 noon who was put under formal arrest at 3.10 p.m.
"Rohit is arrested by Police as there is variance in the statement given by him on November 1 and today," Superintendent of Police (North) Bosco George told reporters here.
The first arrest came after much of politicking and delaying in the entire case. Monserratte, a high profile minister in Digamber Kamat cabinet, had put his entire political weight behind the son.
Initial reluctance by the girl to depose before the police or get herself medically examined worked in favour of Monserratte.
But the judicial intervention at two levels – a suo motto case by High Court and a Judicial Maigistrate First Class' order to get girl for deposition – changed the entire face of the case.
The girl who had refused to budge before the child right NGOs and psychiatrists agreed to depose before the lady Judicial Magistrate First Class, Bela naik on November 1.
Adding to Monserratte's troubles, the girl also agreed for medical examination, which was positive confirming that she was sexually active.
Goa Children's Act, promulgated in 2003, considers even a consensual sex with the minor as a rape.
Rohit, the 21 year old Monserratte's son, had gone into hiding when German mother publicly accused him of sexually exploiting her daughter.
However, the lad came before the police on November 1, few hours before the girl deposed and gave her statement. Subsequently, he went on hiding again.
Police had launched extensive search operation on Monday.
His father had assured to the police that Rohit would present before them today and accordingly surrendered
Follow-up - Daijiworld Exclusive: