Russian girl rape case: Accused politician John surrenders

Panaji, Jan 6 (PTI) After absconding for nearly one month,
Goa politician John Fernandes, accused of raping a young
Russian girl, surrendered before police Wednesday and was
placed under arrest, two days after the Supreme Court of India
refused to restore his anticipatory bail initially granted.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Chandrakant
Salgaoncar told reporters that Fernandes has been placed under
arrest and would be interrogated to get further evidence in
the case.
Salgaoncar said the accused walked into the Crime Branch
office at Dona Paula with his lawyer at 1400 hours. "He was
immediately placed under arrested as we were looking out for
him for his custodial interrogation," he added.
He also said the accused would be charged with destroying
evidence as he had handed over clothes not worn by him to the
investigating agency earlier.
John, a South Goa based politician, who unsuccessfully
fought 2007 assembly elections on Churchill Alemao's Save Goa
Front Party, allegedly raped a 25-year-old Russian girl by
spiking her drinks at Colva beach on the night of December 1.
Salgaoncar said the accused was absconding from the time
Panaji bench of Bombay High Court rejected the anticipatory
bail granted to him by district and sessions court.
The accused also approached Supreme Court of India with
the anticipatory bail plea, which refused to interfere with
the High Court order.
The Crime Branch will now also initiate inquiry into
Johnis movement since he went missing. "If some people have
helped him to hide, we will initiate action against them also
for harbouring criminal," Salgaoncar said.
Police had issued look out circulars after John was
untraceable. He was declared absconder by Judicial Magistrate
First Class (JMFC), Margao. PTI