Gomes sent to 14 days judicial custody

Mumbai, Oct 1 (ANI): Francis Gomes, who was arrested for confining members of his family in their house for seven long years, was on Thursday sent to 14 days judicial custody.

Earlier in the day, Mumbai Police registered a case against Gomes. He has been charged under Section 342, 343 and 344 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

All these three sections of the IPC pertain to the punishment provided in case of wrongful confinement and differ on the term of confinement. While Sec 342, can provides simple imprisonment upto a year, Sec 343 carries a prison term upto 2 years and 344, which is for confinement of ten days and more carries a term of upto 3 years.

On Wednesday, police arrested Gomes (60) on the charges of keeping his wife Theresa and three daughters Elizabeth, Geneviev and Barbara, confined at their house in Naigaon area of Vasai, Mumbai.

However, Gomes denied allegations of torturing his family members.

"This is a matter between me and my family. My wife had come mental problems. If my wife and daughters had problems, they should have told it to me," Gomes said.

Theresa, Elizabeth and Barbara, who had bruises all over the body, were admitted to a hospital.

Francis, who kept the family captive for seven years, gave them very little food and did not allow them to have any sort of contact with the outside world. He also banned television and physically abused his daughters and wife.

His younger daughter Barbara was found with a severe neck injury and his eldest daughter Elizabeth recounted how they were kept chained in the kitchen for almost 7 long years.

R Gopalakrishanan- head of an NGO -the Anand Rehabilition Centre finally rescued the Gomes family on Tuesday. (ANI)