Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Children’s Court on Thursday acquitted 65-year-old pop singer and Padma Shri awardee Remo Fernandes in connection with a verbal abuse case filed against him in 2015.
“Judge Vandana Tendulkar acquitted Remo from all the charges,” Remo’s advocate said.
On December 2, 2016 a girl from Maharashtra, walking to Old Goa to fulfill a vow to St Francis Xavier was allegedly hit by a car driven by Remo’s son Jonah.
Goa Police had filed a charge sheet against Remo before the court for allegedly verbally abusing the minor girl at Goa Medical College (GMC) where she was undergoing treatment after being injured in the accident cause by Jonah.
The 53-page charge sheet had statements of 21 witnesses, including that of complainant, social activist Aires Rodrigues and the victim. Police had charged Remo under Section 8 read with 2 (m) of the Goa Children’s Act 2003, which provides that “child abuse” refers to maltreatment.
Tendulkar had earlier heard arguments where police had sought Remo’s custodial interrogation as he had skipped summons twice and is a Portuguese national. However, the court had granted conditional bail and asked Remo to surrender his passport so that he would not leave the country without prior permission of the investigation officer.
Remo tweeted, “When the truth wins over pathetic lies, it’s rejoicing time!”
