Russian rape case:Goa Court declares accused as ‘absconding’

John Fernandes, a high-profile south Goa politician accused of raping a Russian girl, has been declared ‘absconding’ by a court in Margao on Friday.

The Crime Branch, which is investigating the case, on Friday moved an application to get John declared absconding as he was untraceable, police said.

Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao, pronounced him as absconding responding to the petition, they said.

The court also issued an arrest warrant against the accused, who is wanted by Crime Branch to investigate the rape case.

A 25-year-old Russian tourist had alleged that John raped her on December 1 mid-night after spiking her drink.

Police Inspector Sunita Sawant told that the Crime Branch had initiated efforts to trace the accused but he was not available.

Goa bench of the Bombay High court on December 16 had set aside lower court’s order granting anticipatory bail to John.

Police said that John, who had surrendered to police during his bail period, has been not contactable since then.

Police, pleading for cancellation of anticipatory bail of John, had said that the accused was needed for custodial interrogation.

Earlier, the Supreme Court refused to grant anticipatory bail to John Fernandes in the case.