PANAJI
The Crime Branch (CB) has filed two chargesheets against Soham Naik, son of BJP-backed councillor Sushant Naik, in the sensational Curchorem sex scandal, while a third chargesheet in the earliest FIR is expected shortly.
Sources told The Goan that the CB teams have relied heavily on forensic and medical evidence, including allegedly recovered deleted videos, photographs and mobile data.
In one of the cases, the CB filed a 158-page report before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), naming 19 witnesses. Since both the accused and the victim were minors at the time of the alleged offence, the filing has been made in the form of a juvenile report instead of a regular chargesheet, sources said.
"The victim was a Class X student when she came in contact with Soham through social media. The two allegedly developed friendship, following which Naik is accused of sexually exploiting her and allegedly filming the obscene act. The medical evidence has confirmed sexual assault and forms a crucial part of the evidence collected against him,” the source revealed.
The alleged incident took place in Curchorem. Sources added that the CB has also attached mobile forensic evidence retrieved after examination at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Verna.
With Soham being a minor at the time, it will now be for the JJB to decide whether the matter should continue before the juvenile forum at Apna Ghar or be transferred for trial before a regular court.
In the second case, the CB has filed a 140-page chargesheet supported by 25 witnesses and similar electronic and documentary evidence.
Sources further stated that the first FIR initially registered at the Curchorem police station and later transferred to the CB is also in the final stages of investigation and is likely to be chargesheeted shortly.
The development comes weeks after forensic experts reportedly recovered deleted videos and photographs from Soham's seized mobile phone, which opened fresh leads in the scandal.
The recovered digital material was examined by the CB in connection with all five FIRs registered against Naik.
However, the agency could face a setback in at least one case after a victim reportedly maintained that Naik was "only a friend."
Sources added the same victim, in her statement before a magistrate, allegedly claimed she was pressured into filing a complaint and making allegations against him.
She later moved an intervention application supporting his anticipatory bail plea, which was granted.
In another fresh development, Soham was granted conditional bail in one of the sexual assault cases, by the Children's Court on Thursday.
