PANAJI: The alleged sex scandal in Curchorem has intensified days after the arrest of 20-year-old Soham Sushant Naik, with the case now transferred to the crime branch for a detailed probe. Three FIRs have been registered so far, and statements of two survivors have been recorded. Investigators have found that both the accused and the survivors were minors at the time of the alleged incidents, which reportedly took place around three years ago when they were in college. Naik, a resident of Madhegal in Cacora and son of a councillor of the Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council, was arrested following public outrage, with locals gathering outside the police station on Sunday demanding immediate action. South Goa SP Santosh Desai said that while one case was initially registered, two more FIRs were filed based on subsequent statements. The first FIR has been registered on behalf of the state. Police said Naik is being treated as the prime suspect and is currently under interrogation, while several others suspected to be linked to the case are also being questioned. Deputy inspector general of police Varsha Sharma, who reviewed the probe, said the additional FIRs were registered based on a survivor’s statement. She added that video clips recovered so far do not show the presence of survivors, and the accused’s mobile phone will be sent for forensic examination. Police said the investigation is being carried out from all angles and denied any political pressure in the case, maintaining that FIRs are being registered strictly based on complaints received. Naik has been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, the Information Technology Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, and the Goa Children’s Act. A local court remanded him to four-day police custody on Monday.
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‘Protecting such monsters is fatal for society’AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday slammed BJP over the Curchorem sex scandal, demanding the harshest punishment for the accused and justice for the survivors.
He accused BJP of shielding the son of one of its councillors, who allegedly sexually exploited 30 minor girls over three years, filming and blackmailing them. “BJP has turned people’s lives in Goa into hell. Everyone is living under the shadow of fear,” Kejriwal said.He demanded that the guilty be dealt with sternly and warned that those in office must not protect such offenders. “Protecting such monsters is fatal for society. No demon should even think of doing this again,” he added. TNN
