Is police shielding politician in Goa rape case?

Pananji, Dec 5: While the increased reports of crime is hurting Goa's image as India's hottest tourist destination, the manner in which the latest attempt to rape case is being handled is raising more questions, as the registration of a attempt to rape complaint against a politician was delayed further.

A 25-year-old Russian woman, who alleges that a Goan politican tried to rape her, went to the police on Friday, Dec 4 to file a fresh complaint at Colva police station. However, she was turned away saying the case was transferred to the Crime Branch.

The victim claims that John Fernandes, a member of a local party who contested and lost in the 2007 state Assembly election, tried to rape her on Dec 1.

The woman, who works as a Russian representative for The Leela Hotel, said that Fernandes sexually assaulted her in his car while dropping to her hotel. She has even alleged that her drink was spiked by the politician.

In a letter to Russian Consulate, the girl has accused the police of shielding the politician. She has said that Colva police station in-charge Siddhant Shirodkar asked her to tone down the complaint warning her that she might lose her job and get visa cancelled.

Meanwhile, Fernandes has moved the local court for anticipatory bail.

OneIndia News