Scarlet case: CBI wants to bar Adv Jos

PANJIM, JULY 16
The CBI has moved an application before Children’s Court to bar Adv Jos Peter D’Souza who represents one of the two accused in the death of Scarlet Keeling from appearing in the case.
The application moved by the CBI through its Special Public Prosecutor S R Rivonkar, says that in the interests of justice and fair trial of the case Adv Jos Peter D’Souza, and his juniors or subordinates in the case be barred from appearing on behalf of the accused Placido Carvalho.
The CBI has objected to Adv Jos Peter D’Souza appearance in the case on the ground that he has been one of the witnesses named in the charge-sheet filed by it.
Placido Carvalho in his reply however contented that the application is totally misconceived, has no basis in law and is in violation of his fundamental right to be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice as guaranteed under Article 22(1) of Constitution of India.
Moreover, he has also pointed out that Children’s Court has no jurisdiction to hear and decide the application which does not disclose the provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, under which it seeks its relief, or, for that matter, under any other law.
He further pointed out that the application displays an arrogance which is unique to the CBI  which seems to claim to be a law unto itself and demanded that the application be dismissed.
The Court is likely to hear the application next week.
Meanwhile, the Court could not record the statement of key witness Murli Sagar in connection with death of British teenager Scarlet Eden Keeling.
The absence of a stenographer made the court to postpone the hearing for July 23.
“The witness could not be examined as there was no stenographer,” public prosecutor, S R Rivonkar told reporters.
Murli, a youth from Mumbai is considered a crucial witness in the case. He was working in the shack named Curlie’s adjacent to the place where Scarlet’s body was found and the investigation had revealed that he had brought the victim to Anjuna in his car.
Police had said Murli was reportedly present at Lui Shack, which Scarlet visited, during her last few hours.