Twist in tale: Girl tries to save Rohit 16 Oct 2008, 0348 hrs IST,TNN
PANAJI: In a fresh twist to the alleged rape case involving the Goa education minister's elder son Rohit and a German minor, the girl has refused to give her statement to the police and subject herself to a medical examination. "We can't wait too long. If the girl fails to give her statement, we will have a difficult case on our hands," said superintendent of police (North) Bosco George. "She is under psychological counselling and we are hopeful that she will give her statement," he added. The police are still searching for Rohit, who is absconding. "If he thinks he is innocent, Babush should produce his son before the police," said George. The option of arresting Babush is also open, he added. The police have provided armed security to the mother and daughter. A police team, along with a child activist, had gone to the minor's residence on Tuesday night to convince her to give her statement and submit herself to a medical examination. "However, the minor threw a tantrum, locked herself up in a room and refused to meet anyone," said a police official. On Wednesday, a police team accompanied by a child activist and a child clinical psychologist again went to meet the girl and her mother. Police sources said the minor's statement and medical examination is crucial to the case as the mother's complaint on Tuesday had alleged that state education minister Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate's son Rohit had sexually assaulted her daughter, outraged her modesty and raped her, offences punishable under section 354 and 376 of IPC. However, Aires Rodrigues, the woman's counsel, said the girl's statement is not important as copies of SMSs sent by Rohit have been produced before the police. "The case will not fall apart. As per the Goa Children's Act, the onus is on the accused to prove he is not guilty. Let Rohit prove that he has not sexually abused the minor," he said. Rodrigues added that the girl will give her statement and even go for a medical examination. At the moment, the mother is going through a trauma and the child is also scared, he said, adding, "The minor is under pressure from Rohit and is protective of him." Recollecting about a call the mother received from her minor daughter after she filed a complaint on October 2 at Calangute police station, Rodrigues said, "She called her mother and asked her to withdraw the complaint as she didn't want Rohit to get into any trouble." The mother has also said that the daughter is upset and confused. "She thinks of Rohit as a friend and believes that I am against her friends. But I explained to her that what he did was wrong," added the mother. Police officials said they have asked for the call details of both Rohit and the minor girl. The police also handed over the FIR to the children's court. COMMENT: Hmmm, another one which surprises, onus on the accused to prove his innonce! Good one, so he is guilty, now he should give himself up and clear his name as required by the Law. This not a misdemeanour this is a first class felony. As per Websters:- 2 a: a grave crime formerly differing from a misdemeanor under English common law by involving forfeiture in addition to any other punishment b: a grave crime declared to be a felony by the common law or by statute regardless of the punishment actually imposed c: a crime declared a felony by statute because of the punishment imposed d: a crime for which the punishment in federal law may be death or imprisonment for more than one year -- DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London.
