Russian girl files rape charges on Goa politician

The 25-year-old girl in her complaint registered at Colva police station has said John Fernandes, who had unsuccessfully contested Goa assembly election in 2007, raped her in his car on December 1, when she along with another Russian girl was offered lift by the politician, who also had a dinner with them at a shack in Colva beach.

John allegedly raped her after dropping the other girl at her hotel, according to the complaint. Colva police said the girl would be sent for medical examination to ascertain whether she was really raped.

Earlier on Friday, the girl had alleged that she was asked to tone down the case by Colva police station in-charge Siddhant Shirodkar, stating that the accused is an influential politician and she can be in trouble for suing him.

The girl also alleged that her drinks were spiked by John. The politician is booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman,) 504 (intentional assault with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 323 (punishment voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons means) and 376 (punishment for rape) read with 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with lifer or other imprisonment).