Goa court postpones verdict in Russian rape case

A Goa court postponed its verdict in the sensational Russian minor girl rape case after the accused claimed he was a minor. Goa Children's Court was supposed to give final order in the case this afternoon when lawyer representing accused Aman Bharadwaj said that his client was a minor and could not be tried in this court.

The court immediately postponed the case till June 4 awaiting documents to prove his exact age. B P Deshpande, President Goa Children's Court asked the prosecution to produce birth certificate or conduct ossification test on the accused to ascertain his exact age. Aman, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, along with his accomplice Anil Raghuvanshi was charged with sexually assaulting a Russian minor girl at Arambol beach on January 26 under Goa Children's Act.

The court today ruled that the inquiry be conducted under section 7 A of Juvenile Justice (care and protection) act 2000. Aman during recording of the statement had claimed his age as 20. Anil has turned a state approver in this case.

A Russian woman, who was holidaying in the state, had complained that Aman had sexually abused her minor daughter while she was bathing on Arambol beach. The medical test conducted on the girl had confirmed her claim.

Aman, who went missing after the incident, was arrested at Chembur by team of Goa police. The court has examined 16 witnesses in the case.