Russian rape case: Victim's statement not part of enquiry

In what seems to be a major procedural lapse, the Russian victim's statement is not a part of fact-finding inquiry initiated against a police inspector, accused of trying to botch up the rape case, involving Goa politician John Fernandes.

In what seems to be a major procedural lapse, the Russian victim's statement is not a part of fact-finding inquiry initiated against a police inspector, accused of trying to botch up the rape case, involving Goa politician John Fernandes.

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"I don't know about the enquiry. My statement was never recorded by any enquiry officer. No one even contacted me," the 25-year-old Russian victim told PTI over phone.

The girl had alleged that Colva police station in-charge Siddhanth Shirodkar had asked her to water down her complaint from "rape" to "attempt to rape."

Shirodkar had allegedly cautioned the victim that the accused, John Fernandes is "an influential person and can get her visa cancelled."

"They were pressurising me to tell (write the complaint) that John just pushed me and gave bad words...He (Shirodkar) told me that John is a powerful person," the girl said.

The victim, whose drink was spiked allegedly by John and was later raped in a car at Colva beach, had written to Consul General of Russian Federation in Mumbai describing the ordeal which she went through at the police station.