Senior CBI counsel withdraws from Scarlett case

A counsel representing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the sensational killing of British teenager Scarlett Keeling Eden in 2008 has pulled out from the case.

With this, the trial in the Goa Children?s Court has come to a standstill as a newly appointed CBI Public Prosecutor has sought time to study the matter.

PP S R Rivonkar, last month had written to the CBI and Court desiring to withdraw from the case stating that he cannot devote time for the important case trial.

Semi-clad bruised corpse of the 15-year-old Scarlett was found on Anjuna shore on Feb 18, 2008.

Goa police had chargesheeted two local businessmen – Samson D?Souza and Placido Carvalho alias Shana Boy for drugging, raping and leaving the teenager to die on the beach.

The CBI in their supplementary chargesheet mellowed down charges against the pair and booked them for culpable homicide and molestation. Both are facing trial in the juvenile Court.

Goa police had handed over the case to the CBI in June 2008.

Sources said that Rivonkar was disturbed as the trial was dragging for several months even as CBI filed a supplementary chargesheet in the Court in October 2009.

The Court has till date examined only 15 witnesses of total 72 witnesses in the case.

Vikram Varma, Counsel for the teenager?s mother Fiona, has termed Rivonkar?s exit as ?unfortunate?.

He said, ?The credibility of the CBI cannot be maintained without effective prosecutors. It is unfortunate that this case will lose a good person like him. But I hope that the CBI replaces him with an equally competent or better prosecutor.?