Crime branch opposes pre-arrest bail plea of Goa activist

The Goa Crime Branch today objected to the anticipatory bail application filed by social activist Aires Rodrigues, who is facing a case of sexual harassment.
Principal Sessions Judge Irshad Agha heard the plea today and adjourned the hearing to December 11.
A woman has accused Rodrigues of 'sexually harassing' her and outraging her modesty by posting her picture on Facebook and linking her to an alleged sex scandal involving state minister Vinod Paliencar. Paliencar has denied involvement in the scandal.
The woman lodged a case with Anjuna police on November 27, which was later transferred to the Crime Branch.
Opposing the plea, inspector Dattaguru Sawant told the court here in a written submission today that the crime was "evil in nature" and the accused wasn't cooperating with the investigating agency and did not appear before it when summoned.

Investigation in the case was at a preliminary stage, the Crime Branch official said.
Adjourning the hearing to Monday, the court ordered the Crime Branch, which had summoned Rodrigues at 3 pm today, to reschedule his appearance for the next week.