Goa police deny interference in case against Remo

The Goa police on Tuesday told the Children’s Court that they were thoroughly investigating the case of verbal abuse of a teenage girl by pop star Remo Fernandes.

In their reply to a notice, they denied any political interference in the case.

Mr. Fernandes also filed an intervention application before the acting president of the court through his lawyers, stating that he was a Portuguese national and was currently in that country. The singer said he would try to reach Goa by January 8.

Judge P.V. Kamat adjourned to January 1 the arguments on the petition filed by activist-lawyer Aires Rodrigues seeking that the court monitor the investigation as there was “political pressure” on the police to shield the accused. The court will also hear arguments on the intervention petition Mr. Fernandes filed.

Drawing the court’s attention to the FIR registered on December 18 by the Goa police against Mr. Fernandes under the Goa Children’s Act, the petitioner stated that the accused was politically influential while the victim hailed from a poor family.

Mr. Rodrigues requested for the Investigating Officer to be directed to submit weekly reports on the status of the investigation.

Mr. Fernandes is accused of verbally abusing the 17-year-old girl from Malvan in Maharashtra while on a pilgrimage to Old Goa. The teenager was knocked down on December 1 by a speeding car driven by Mr. Fernandes’ son Jonah. The singer was also travelling in the car.

However, Mr. Fernandes has denied the charges. Police have registered an offence of rash and negligent driving against Jonah. The survivor is currently recuperating at the State-run Goa Medical College in Bambolim in north Goa.

Sources: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/goa-police-deny-interference-in-case-against-remo/article8042488.ece