Goa to hand over Scarlett's murder case to CBI

Panaji, Apr 2: The Goa government has decided to hand over the British teenager Scarlette Eden Keeling's rape and murder case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ''bring out the truth behind the episode''. The Inspector General of Police Kishan Kumar had already written to the Chief Secretary for forwarding the case to the CBI. The files would be handed over to the central investigation agency soon after a formal order, sources said.

The semi-clad body of Keeling was found on the infamous Anjuna beach on February 18 last, but the police brushed it aside as a case of drowning on the basis of an initial autopsy report. The authorities conducted autopsy for the second time following a complaint by Keeling's mother Fiona and the case was converted into ''rape and murder after an overdose of drugs''.

With the case attracting international media attention, and even the National Commission for Women suspecting foul play, the authorities decided to handover the case to the CBI.

The issue raised much dust with the beleaguered mother alleging police-politician nexus with drug cartel and accusing the State Home Minister and the Director General of police for protecting the culprits.

Fiona, who reached London on Monday along with the body of her slain daughter, desired to hold a third inquest on the corpse.

UNI