Goa home minister, son linked to drug mafia: Scarlett’s mother

PANAJI - The mother of slain British teenager Scarlett Keeling told a local court Monday that Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik and his son, Roy had links to the drug mafia operating in the state.

Fiona Mackeown, who was being cross questioned in the course of the Scarlett culpable homicide case trial being held at the Goa Children’s Court, also said that she had suspected Naik’s involvement, immediately after her daughter’s murder.

“I have been told that Ravi Naik is the head of the drug nexus along with his son, that policemen are also involved in the same. I started suspecting Ravi Naik immediately after the murder of my daughter,” Fiona told the GCC, a designated court which tries offences related to minors.

Fiona also alleged Naik’s son Roy used to give Scarlett drugs along with several other persons.

Roy Naik has also been accused of links to Israeli drug dealers operating in Goa, by an Israel-based Hebrew newspaper Maariv in May this year. Both Roy and Ravi have rubbished these allegations levelled against them.

The opposition has also demanded the resignation of the home minister and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the allegations against the Naiks.

Earlier while identifying her daughter’s knickers, underwear and leather sandals, as part of the identification formalities, Fiona broke down as she was identifying Scarlett’s leather thong sandal, which has been attached as evidence.

The three items which were last worn by Scarlett are crucial pieces of evidence collected by Fiona at Anjuna beach, after the police had glossed over the initial investigation.

Two beach shack workers - Samson D’Souza, 28, and Placido Carvalho, 36 - who were allegedly seen drinking at a bar with Scarlett the night she died were later arrested and face charges of culpable homicide, sexual assault and destroying evidence.