15 Sep 2021  |   06:27am IST

Siddhi death case back with police for probe

Investigate manner of Siddhi’s death, GMC board suggests to police; Reiterates that death was due to drowning

Team Herald

PANJIM: The medical board of Goa Medical College (GMC), Bambolim, constituted to review the Siddhi Naik death case, submitted its report suggesting that the police must investigate the manner of death.

The medical board committee was constituted last week to revisit the medical findings in the girl’s death, following a complaint by the victim’s father suspecting foul play. 

The three-member committee comprising Head of Pathology Prof Dr Wiseman Pinto, Head of OBG Department Prof Dr Guruprasad Pednekar and Professor of Forensic Medicine Dr A V Fernandes submitted its report stating that the ‘manner of her death’ needs to be looked at by the police. The report submitted to the GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar stated the cause of Siddhi’s death was due to drowning but the police must investigate the “manner of death”. 

The girl’s body had been found washed ashore at the Calangute beach a month ago and the Calangute police have until now not arrived at any logical conclusion to prove that it was a suicide as it was first suspected to be. The police are, however, clear that the case is of drowning.

After the uproar on not having preserved the viscera, the demand for a second opinion by a panel of senior doctors was made.

Also the victim’s father filed a complaint of murder at Calangute police station on September 2. However, the police officials were not available for more details despite frantic efforts.