A gruesome case of a rape of a minor which shook Goa, in 2013 has been ‘closed’ by the CBI, not because it has concluded that the rape didn’t happen but because the culprit hasn’t been found. He still roams free. He could even be in the vicinity and in the neighbourhood of the victim. It has been four years and then there is no trace of him.
But why is the CBI giving up? And more importantly, can we conclude that the CBI has indeed done an honest job and failed to crack the case and is thus putting its hand up. While that would be disappointing, we would still accept it as an honest admission of failure. But doubts have been cast over the CBI’s investigation and whether it has actually exhausted all its options before signing off on the closure report, by the victim’s family.
When Herald spoke to the father of the victim of the then seven year old girl (now 11), his story of shock, betrayal and anguish was moving. We have reported this on page 1 in this edition and think it fit to repeat what he said here too “Neither the government, nor the CBI, are cooperating with me. Soon after the incident, I had asked for my daughter’s medical report but it is sad that even today, the agencies could not provide me with the same. I am not sure if the CBI wants to shield someone”.
What is also alarming is that the CBI and the victim’s father have two diametrically opposite versions of events which unfolded after the decision on filing a closure report in the case was taken.
The CBI said notices were sent to the (victim’s father) by the court to submit their objections, and he (the father) is yet to file objections and has asked for some documents which will be handed over on Thursday.
The father’s version is quite the opposite. He told Herald that on November 3, 2016, he had approached JMFC Vasco asking for documents submitted by the CBI before the court. Only 12 pages of the closure report was given but not the case papers nor any other documents.
On December 15, 2016, he moved JMFC Vasco again that he was provided only the copy of final report/closure report under Section 173 of CrPC by CBI. The other documents which are in the file were not furnished as they were photo stat copies.
This quashes the CBI claim that notices were sent to the father asking him to raise objections. The father clearly wants all the case documents before even giving consent to CBI to close the case of the rape of his daughter, when he knows that the rapist could be around waiting for the next opportunity to strike.
There is, at this stage, no merit in filing the closure report of this case, in the wake of the father’s reactions. Contrary to the CBI’s claim that the father has asked for “some documents” which would be handed over on Thursday, the father has indeed stated that he has been asking for all the papers of the case since November.
At some point of time all these papers including detailed statements recorded must be available for public scrutiny, so that those who need to know, indeed know that the case has been probed intensely and that none of the findings have been suppressed or statements not taken into account, to hinder justice.
Goa’s faith in its system of confirm and security was shaken by this incident. The wounds are still fresh. The CBI cannot inflict further wounds by closing this case.
