‘Probe Goa home minister’s son in Scarlett case’

PANAJI - Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik’s son Roy should be probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the death of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, her mother Fiona Mackeown said here Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, Mackeown, who is in Goa to depose before a trial court in connection with her daughter’s culpable homicide trial, also said that those accused of killing her daughter were still roaming scot-free.

“Many people told me about his (Roy’s) involvement. The CBI needs to probe and investigate. They should find out whether he is involved or not,” said Mackeown, who had first accused Roy of being linked to the drug trade in 2008 after her daughter’s death.

“My daughter was given narcotics and killed in Anjuna. The existence of the drug nexus is evident from the findings of the Goa police and the death of Scarlett. This nexus cannot survive without political patronage and must be probed till it is stopped,” Mackeown added.

Asked if the people responsible for Scarlett’s death have gone scot-free, Mackeown said: “They are still out. They are walking free. Those who are supposed to be in jail are still walking about freely. The police officer who lied to me has been reinstated in service,”

She said she may name more suspects in court during her deposition.

A resident of Bideford in southwest England, Mackeown said she had full faith in the judicial system but also pointed out that had the case been handed over to the CBI immediately, the investigation would have been more qualitative.

“More evidence could have been available. The delay gave time for the evidence to be destroyed. The initial investigating officer was assisting criminals rather than me. Top leadership took a stand that it was an accident and chose to blame me and Scarlett, rather than criminals for her death,” she said.

Two beach shack workers Samson Dsouza and Placido Carvalho have already been arrested and booked for culpable homicide and sexual assault in connection with Scarlett’s death.

The trial resumes Friday.