PANAJI
The woman, who claimed gang rape in Baga, has taken a U-turn in her statement before the judicial magistrate on Thursday. The 27-year-old West Bengal native had told the doctors at the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) that she was sexually exploited by unknown men at Baga; prompting a police complaint.
In her deposition before the magistrate after her treatment, the victim denied gang rape.
“After undergoing the treatment at IPHB, the victim was asked to give her statement before the magistrate under section 164 CrPC, in which she is free to depose without any presence of any policemen or pressure. In her statement, she denied the incident,” Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Nidhin Valsan said while speaking to reporters about the latest development.
The IPHB’s report to the Calangute police had certified her as “not mentally fit” for recording statements after the local police sought an opinion to produce her before the magistrate for deposition under section 164 of the CrPC, last month.
The Victim Assistance Unit (VAU) for Goa had sought the intervention of Director General of Police Jaspal Singh to hand over the case to Women Police Station, from Calangute police given that the lone lady sub-inspector was in a helpless situation without support.
Sources said that the police are likely to close the investigation in the wake of fresh development.
