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.

"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 she went through at the police station.

The rape happened on the night of December 1 and a complaint was lodged next day. Shrouded with suspicion, the case was later handed over to the Crime Branch for further investigation. The fact finding inquiry, headed by deputy superintendent of police Umesh Gaonkar has reportedly given a clean chit to Shirodkar and has refused that the inspector faulted in his duty.

When questioned, Gaonkar conceded that victim's statement was not taken during the enquiry.

"We have based the entire enquiry on the written statement submitted by the victim. Where is the question of quizzing her again?" he said.

The representative of Russian consulate, however, has expressed his bitterness over such an enquiry tattered with procedural lapses.

"A uniform carries with it a huge amount of responsibility, power and respect. When that uniform is abused to the advantage of a criminal, the citizen becomes absolutely helpless. Men who abuse the uniform and erode the credibility of the police force, should not be protected by the same force, but dealt with a firm hand under the provisions of law made for this specific purpose," Vikram Varma, lawyer for Russian consulate in Goa, said.

"We have seen the depths people like SPS Rathore can descend to. Some men are comfortable in blatantly abusing their  uniform, they are not an asset, but clearly a liability to a civilised society," he added. The victim, meanwhile, has lost her job in a five-star hotel where she was working as a Russian representative.

"I am looking out for a new job now," she said.

The victim has been provided police security after she was attempted to be roughed up by supporters of the accused outside the district court in Margao.

John, a south Goa-based politician, is currently absconding and his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the supreme court yesterday.