Goa Education Minister Atanasio Monserratte's son Rohit was on Tuesday arrested in connection with the rape of a German teenager after he surrendered to the police.
Rohit, 21, had deposed before the police on November 1, but went into hiding after that. He gave himself up to Calangute police station in-charge Tushar Vernekar today afternoon.
"Rohit was placed under arrest at 3.10 pm as we have found variance in his statement on November 1 and today,"
Superintendent of Police (North) Bosco George told PTI.
Goa cops look for minister's son accused of raping German minor
Rohit, a MBA student, was accused by a German woman of raping her minor daughter on October 2.
Subsequently, she filed another complaint against State Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao's nephew Warren charging him with sexually exploiting the 14-year-old girl.
The girl, who was initially reluctant to depose or get herself medically examined, finally broke the silence on November 1 before a lady Judicial Magistrate.
The girl also got herself medically examined on November 2.
The police had launched a search operation for Rohit after he failed to appear before the police on Monday. After raiding two of his residences, Monserratte had assured the police that he would produce his son today.
Accordingly, Monserratte, along with his lawyer and son, reached Calangute police station in a red beacon car.
"My son is paying the price only because I am a politician," Monserratte told reporters outside the Calangute police station.
The education minister, who has also been booked for abetment of the crime, said he will prove that his son is innocent. Monserratte claimed that his son was being framed.
"Justice will prevail and truth will come out," he said.
Police sources said they have zeroed in on Rohit as the victim has not mentioned any other name in the statement.
"We are acting against those whom she has named in the statement," the police official said.