Two sisters among victims in Goa sex scandal: Police
Panaji (PTI): Investigations into an alleged sex scandal involving a Goa councillor's son have shown that he exploited multiple victims, including two sisters, one of them a minor, police said on Sunday.
So far, four females, including the girlfriend of 20-year-old accused Soham Naik, have filed police complaints against him, they said.
The police's Crime Branch, which is investigating the case, has received statements from four females -- two of them minors -- who claimed that they were sexually exploited by Naik, son of a councillor from Curchorem Municipal Council in Goa's Kushavati district, as per officials.
The Curchorem police arrested Naik on March 22 for allegedly raping several girls and circulating their obscene videos. The action came after locals protested outside the Curchorem police station.
The case was later handed over to the Crime Branch.
So far, four females have filed complaints against the accused, who is currently in the Crime Branch's custody, while attempts are underway to reach out to more potential victims, a senior official privy to the investigation told PTI.
Among the four, two sisters, including a minor, have deposed before the police, accusing Naik of raping them, the official said.
The Crime Branch has sent Naik's mobile phone for forensic examination.
The accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Goa Children's Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act
The ruling BJP has said that the accused and his politician father had no connection with the saffron party.
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Allahabad HC orders police protection to married couple apprehending 'honour killing'
Prayagraj (PTI): The Allahabad High Court has granted protection to a married couple who expressed fear that they may be killed by the woman's family.
The order was passed by a division bench comprising Justice JJ Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena on March 25.
"No individual can make an 'honour issue' out of a consenting adult marrying a person of their own choice. It is the state's duty to protect the life, limb, and property of such persons even against their own family members," the bench said.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Prachi Agrawal and her partner, who sought relief in connection with an FIR filed under Section 87 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for kidnapping, and abducting or inducing a woman to compel her marriage.
The couple submitted that they married at an Arya Samaj temple and possessed a marriage registration certificate issued under the Uttar Pradesh Marriage Registration Rules, 2017.
The petitioners alleged that the woman's family members were averse to their marriage and lodged a bogus FIR against them.
The couple further submitted a joint affidavit expressing apprehension of an honour killing by the woman's family.
The court said that a prima facie case was made out and issued notice to the private respondent and granted two weeks to file a counter-affidavit.
Meanwhile, as an interim measure, the court granted the petitioners protection from arrest.
The court also explicitly ordered the woman's family members and relatives not to harm the petitioners, enter their matrimonial home, or establish contact with them directly or through any electronic means.
The bench directed the Aligarh senior superintendent of police to ensure that no harm comes to the couple and posted the matter for hearing on April 8.
