MARGAO, JULY 28
Where is the Russian woman rape victim? This question did the rounds in the corridors of the South Goa Sessions court on Wednesday as the rape victim was conspicuous by her absence in the court on Wednesday despite summons issued by the court.
And, if the Crime branch is to be believed, the agency has submitted to the court that summons are being served on the victim through Interpol, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi. The investigating agency has submitted that summons would be served on the victim by observing the guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi for service of summons abroad.
Incidentally, the Crime branch has maintained that it would take around 120 days for the investigating agency to secure the presence of the victim in the court. The agency has sought time to produce the victim complainant given the formalities involved in serving summons to the foreign national.
The Crime branch application assumes significance as the court had issued summons to the victim to appear in the court on Wednesday. The Russian rape victim, however, was conspicuous by her absence in the court room. Inquiries with the prosecution revealed that the summons have not yet returned back to the court.
Arguments on the prosecution request seeking time of 120 days is expected to come before the court on Thursday. The accused in the case, John Fernandes, who has been languishing in jail without trial for the last seven months and half, has filed a bail application before Additional sessions Judge B P Deshpande.
The Crime branch has vehemently opposed granting of bail for John on grounds that the accused will tamper with evidence, will threaten the witnesses and will be also emboldened to display his political clout. “The offense committed by the accused is serious in nature and is against a foreign national. The accused is having a political linkage and is enjoying support of political parties. Being a known figure in the political circle, there is every possibility that the accused could exercise undue pressure on the witnesses specially the foreign nationals by threatening them using his political clout”, the Crime branch said in reply to bail application.
