Police fails to trace Goa Minister facing threat charges

Goa police on Wednesday said that they were not able to trace Goa Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane who is accused of threatening a lawyer-cum-social activist.

Goa police on Wednesday said that they were not able to trace Goa Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane who is accused of threatening a lawyer-cum-social activist.

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Senior police officials confirmed that the summons issued by local court against Rane could not be served as he was not available at his given address.

Rane is the Goa State Health and Agriculture Minister and is also a son of Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly Pratapsingh Rane. He has been chargesheeted for threatening to kill lawyer Aires Rodrigues.

The summons issued by the court has directed him to remain present at the trial court in Panaji on Tuesday. The state police told the court that they could not trace the Minister at his residence at Kamat Kinara at Miramar, near Panaji city.

The case is now scheduled for hearing next week. Goa Police's Public Relation Officer (PRO) Atmaram Deshpande told PTI that since the summons were issued at a specified address, the police had done their job.

"The place is under renovation and labourers working there did not know where Rane is staying now," Deshpande said.