HC issues show-cause notice to Goa govt

AGENCIES
Posted on 2008-10-25
MUMBAI- Taking a suo motu notice, the Bombay High Court on Friday asked the Goa government to file a reply why the investigation into alleged rape of a German girl by two ministers’ kin should not be handed over to a specialised agency.
The mother of the 14-year-old victim has named the Goa Education Minister, Mr Atanasio Monserrate’s son Mr Rohit Monserrate as the suspect. The High Court in Friday’s order asked the investigating officer to explain “why none of the alleged accused has been apprehended” yet.
The High Court took up the case after going through reports in newspapers.
“If newspapers are correct even to some extent, they demonstrate apathy of police towards rule of law... This is not a question of suffering of an individual but has an effect on the society as a whole,” a division bench of the Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Mr Justice S A Bobde said in the order.
The reply has to be filed by October 27 before the Goa bench of the High Court at Panaji. The Court also asked the police to produce the record of investigation.
The German lady, a researcher, alleged on Thursday that Mr Warren Alemao, nephew of Goa PWD Minister, Mr Churchill Alemao, too sexually abused her daughter. While Mr Warren has refuted the allegation, Mr Rohit Monserrate is yet to be traced.
The allegation against Mr Rohit Monserrate was made on October 2 but the FIR was lodged on October 14.