PANJIM: After having failed to appear before the Crime Branch (CB) sleuths in connection with probe into sexual harassment case on Thursday, activist Advocate Aires Rodrigues has been issued fresh summons to appear on Friday.
Rodrigues moved the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) on Thursday seeking that the court monitor the investigation and replace the investigation officer. However, the CB has termed it as an irrelevant reason for refraining from deposing in the case.
“He has given irrelevant reason (not to appear in the case). If he fails to depose on Friday, it will treated that he is not cooperating with the investigation,” SP Kartik Kashyap said.
Asked if the case demands his arrest, the officer said “We will see if his arrest is required. It all depends on how well he cooperates with the investigating team.”
Rodrigues in a letter to the CB had sought that the date be re-scheduled as he has moved the JMFC seeking that court monitors the investigation and ‘that in the interest of justice the investigation be entrusted to any officer other than (inspector) Dattaguru Sawant.’ The JMFC will hear the petition on December 12 when the CB is asked to submit its reply.
The advocate is booked under various Sections of Indian Penal Code.
