Russian rape case: Goa politician declared absconding

A court in Margao has declared John Fernandes, a high-profile south Goa politician accused of raping a Russian girl, as 'absconding'.

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

Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao, 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 PTI that the Crime Branch had initiated efforts to trace the accused but he was unavailable.

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

The 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.