The investigating authorities and the Government of Goa have ensured that all the five pillars supporting a solid sex crims investigation are strong in the sexual assault case involving the 51-year-old celebrity journalist Tarun Tejpal by always opposing the grant of interim bail, saying that the victim and her boyfriend were getting threatening emails. The Crime Branch did not leave anything to chance by moving an application on 6th March 2014 at the fast track court in Panaji under Section 173 (8) of the CrPC, seeking time to include the response of the Hollywood actor Robert de Niro through a questionnaire in the Supplementary chargesheet. The Investigating authorities are thoroughly investigating and documenting every aspect of sexual crime involving Tarun Tejpal.
I am sure that the handling of the sexual assault case against Tarun Tejpal by the Government of Goa made Goa popular worldwide and people all over the world must have felt that our Goa is a land where justice is administered promptly.
On many occasions there have been long delays in the administration of justice to the sons and daughters of the soil. Registration of the First Information Report and subsequent investigations in the case involving the barbaric sexual torture of a woman in our state at Camurlim began only when the voice of Goa, Herald launched a campaign for justice. Non collection of samples for investigation from the crime scene and the failure to conduct the victim’s sexual assault examination on the day of crime has reduced the chances of a free and fair investigation.
Similarly, there is a delay in administering justice to the minor school girl who was allegedly raped in the school toilet at Vasco in January 2013. The school authorities allegedly destroyed all the evidences of the brutal rape crime namely washing of the toilet floor, child’s body and the blood stained undergarments. The Central Bureau of Investigation has released the third sketch of the suspected Vasco school girl rapist but the accused who committed the barbaric crime is still at bay. Providing an opportunity to destroy the crime scene evidence or ensuring a delay in registering the First Information Report in cases related to such brutal sex crimes will only encourage criminals to commit such barbaric crimes again and again in our state.
The opposition party in a democratic form of government like our’s functions like pressure groups against the government and guides the government to work in the interest of the general public. However, it is very unfortunate that the opposition in our state legislative assembly is in a deep slumber. The opposition does not have the will or the strength to guide our state government.
