CBI to probe Scarlett's murder
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SPECIALCORRESPONDENT
The Goa Government today decided to seek a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of British teenager Scarlette Eden Keeling, who was allegedly drugged, raped and killed in Goa's popular Anjuna Beach on February 18, 2008. Informing to media in the city today a senior police officer said, "It is decided now. Previously it was just a willingness to transfer."
Panaji: The Goa Government today decided to seek a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of British teenager Scarlette Eden Keeling, who was allegedly drugged, raped and killed in Goa's popular Anjuna Beach on February 18, 2008. Informing to media in the city today a senior police officer said, "It is decided now. Previously it was just a willingness to transfer."
He further added that the state government gave its nod for the transfer of the case to the CBI and all the formalities in this regard would be completed in the next couple of days. Earlier, dissatisfied with the police investigation, Scarlette's mother, Fiona Mackeown had sought the CBI probe into the case.
Following the doubts voiced by several human rights and other groups over the veracity of the murder probe, Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat in March declared on the floor of the Assembly, his willingness to hand over the case to the CBI.
Meanwhile, a two-member team of the National Commission for Women (NCW) is scheduled to submit its independent investigation report into the death of the British teenager in New Delhi today.
In its preliminary report released on Sunday, NCW member Nirmala Venkatesh said, "The police are trying to hide the facts of the case and close it. We will never allow this to happen." She even claimed that Scarlette was injected with morphine.
Further, four to five persons raped Scarlette by gagging her mouth. "There are nail marks on the body and several marks, which indicate that more than one person was involved in the sexual assault. The police investigation in this case was completely misleading and the police destroyed evidence. Our findings are based on the evidence found in the post-mortem and viscera reports," Nirmala said.
Initially, Goa Police had insisted that Scarlette died due to accidental drowning and later re-investigated the case after second autopsy was conducted following persistent appeals from her mother Fiona Mackeown.
The autopsy report revealed bruises all over Keeling's body and her mouth was stuffed with sand and she did not have enough saltwater in her lungs to indicate drowning.
He further added that the state government gave its nod for the transfer of the case to the CBI and all the formalities in this regard would be completed in the next couple of days. Earlier, dissatisfied with the police investigation, Scarlette's mother, Fiona Mackeown had sought the CBI probe into the case.
Following the doubts voiced by several human rights and other groups over the veracity of the murder probe, Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat in March declared on the floor of the Assembly, his willingness to hand over the case to the CBI.
Meanwhile, a two-member team of the National Commission for Women (NCW) is scheduled to submit its independent investigation report into the death of the British teenager in New Delhi today.
In its preliminary report released on Sunday, NCW member Nirmala Venkatesh said, "The police are trying to hide the facts of the case and close it. We will never allow this to happen." She even claimed that Scarlette was injected with morphine.
Further, four to five persons raped Scarlette by gagging her mouth. "There are nail marks on the body and several marks, which indicate that more than one person was involved in the sexual assault. The police investigation in this case was completely misleading and the police destroyed evidence. Our findings are based on the evidence found in the post-mortem and viscera reports," Nirmala said.
Initially, Goa Police had insisted that Scarlette died due to accidental drowning and later re-investigated the case after second autopsy was conducted following persistent appeals from her mother Fiona Mackeown.
The autopsy report revealed bruises all over Keeling's body and her mouth was stuffed with sand and she did not have enough saltwater in her lungs to indicate drowning.
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