PANJIM: A large number of Colvale villagers attended the anticipatory bail hearing of Hanumant Narvekar at the Children’s Court, Panjim, on Tuesday afternoon. Narvekar is accused of raping a minor Siolim school girl,
After hearing the argument of the both the prosecution and the defence, the court has reserved the order for September 11.
Meanwhile, Public Prosecutor Krishna Sansgiri has filed an application before Children’s Court, seeking the presence of Narvekar in the court, when the order is pronounced. The order on the public prosecutor’s application will be passed on September 10.
Adv Michael Nazareth, appearing for the accused, submitted that his client has been falsely accused of raping the minor girl and that the accused has an unblemished teaching career spanning over 38 years.
Countering Adv Nazareth, PP Sansgiri argued that if someone wanted to falsely implicate the accused, then, they would have used a girl who was his (Narvekar’s) student, but in the present case the victim was not his (Narvekar’s) student. The public prosecutor further argued that even if the victim wanted to target a teacher, she would have targeted someone who was teaching her, rather than the accused who was not teaching her.
Ritesh Varkhandkar, who is leading the villagers in demanding justice for the victim, alleged that the case “is being politicised.” However, he said that they have faith in judiciary and they would wait till the order is pronounced. Thereafter, further course of action would be decided, he said.
