PANJIM: A copy of the noting sheets sought by Adv. Aires Rodrigues under the Right To Information Act has revealed that the then Governor of Goa, Mr. S.C Jamir had intervened in the 2004 Ribandar Church molestation case involving the then Ribandar Parish Priest, Fr. Newton Rodrigues.
The file notings furnished to Adv. Aires Rodrigues under the Right to Information Act reveals that an F.I.R was registered at the Old Goa Police Station on 18th August 2004 against Fr. Newton Rodrigues for having allegedly molested a 13 year old girl. The F.I.R was registered against him under Sec 354 of IPC and Section 8(2) of the Goa Children’s Act. The mother in her complaint had stated that Fr. Newton Rodrigues had taken the minor girl to his bedroom on the pretext of confession and had molested her.
The notings further reveal that Fr. Newton Rodrigues in his statement to the police stated that while he was pointing to the pendant worn by the minor girl, his hand by mistake touched her breast. Fr. Newton Rodrigues also stated that when the victim’s mother came and abused him after the incident he had apologized to the mother of the victim.
After the investigation of the case was carried out, the then Senior Superintendent of Police (Crime) on 30th August 2004 opined that the Fr. Newton Rodrigues be charge sheeted. A draft charge sheet was also prepared. The Director of Prosecution had also opined that it was a fit case for charge sheeting the accused priest Fr Newton Rodrigues.
On 17th September 2004 the Investigating Officer of the case Inspector Mrs. Ezilda D’Souza who incidentally hails from Ribandar sought advice from her superiors whether the charge sheet against Fr. Newton Rodrigues was to be filed with or without arresting him.
On 22nd September 2004 the Superintendent of Police (Crime) directed that the charge sheet against Fr. Newton Rodrigues be filed without arresting him.
Within four days, on 28th September 2004 the victim girl in a letter to the Director General of Police stated that the complaint against the priest was filed under pressure.
Governor Mr. S.C Jamir also steps in and directs that the case papers be sent to the Public Prosecutor in the High Court and the Advocate General for their recommendation. Governor Jamir also directed that the file be forwarded be him before a final decision in the case is taken.
After an unexplained delay of over six months, on 6th April 2005, the police decide to take the legal opinion of the Public Prosecutor in the High Court and the Advocate General.
On 19th April 2005 the then Public Prosecutor in the High Court S.N.Sardesai opined that the case against the Fr. Newton Rodrigues be closed while strangely noting that the molestation incident is neither true nor entirely false. When the legal opinion of Advocate General Subodh Kantak was sought he declined stating that the accused priest Fr. Newton Rodrigues had consulted him on the issue before he became Advocate General.
On 14th July 2005 the whole file was sent to Governor S.C. Jamir. On 31st August 2005 the police submit a report to the Children’s Court that the case against Fr. Newton Rodrigues be closed.
The question that remains unanswered is as to why and at whose behest Governor S.C Jamir intervened in the matter? Was it to save Fr. Newton Rodrigues from being charge sheeted? The answer only Mr. Jamir who is now retired in Nagaland would know.
The noting sheets also show that the Crime Branch which was handling the case dragged their feet in filing the charge sheet to the benefit of Fr. Newton Rodrigues. If the charge sheet was ready on 30th August 2004 with the approval of the Director of Prosecution why was it not filed immediately? Was it because the Investigating Officer Mrs. Ezilda D’Souza was a parishioner of the same church?
Was it also to give Fr. Newton Rodrigues enough time to pressurize the victim girl to withdraw her complaint?
Meanwhile, Adv. Aires Rodrigues has stated that the irony of the whole 2004 Ribandar Church case saga is that while the Crime Branch let Fr. Newton Rodrigues scot free, 13 residents of Ribandar including an 80 year old widow have been charge sheeted for entering the Ribandar Church and questioning Fr Newton Rodrigues on the molestation episode.
Woh, this could be a new script for a new tiatr. Be it whoever, why is the law dragging it's feet in coming to a conclusion? It is because of the malafide interest of the politicians to drag the Church into politics. Priest is no God and Church is no politics. Why should the priest note the pendant on the chest of the innocent girl, what has it to do with the priest and confession? Are confessions done in the bedroom?
ReplyDeleteDalia... Have you already started writing the tiatr? This could be a real super hit. It's a mixture of religion and politics. Confessionals and bedrooms. Why the bedroom? Are there no confessionals in Ribandar Church?? Was the priest trying to hypnotize the innocent girl by touching her pendant? Though it is a very serious issue, we can turn it into a little bit of comedy.
ReplyDeleteI can read this as a classical case of so called "Holy people", they call themselves above God's law. But they fall down to the politicians. Goa is messed up between politics and religion. By the politicians and a few chamchas.
ReplyDeleteWow a 80 year old being charge sheeted for questioning the priest for wrong doing, must be written in the history books. Church may be a sanctuary but not for wrong doers. If the tiatr is directed who will be the Chief Guest, or will the tiatr be sold to the highest bidder by Judas?
ReplyDeleteDiogo... Just imagine in our younger days during the Portuguese rule in Goa, if our mother or grandmother came to question us on our misdeeds, could we go and chargesheet them??? The 80 year old widow, knowing her bringing up during her younger days must have have gone to question the priest, treating him like his son or even grandson. What is the result? This priest is just like another Mahanand. Enjoy and escape. I know there will be plenty of comments against me but I don't care. I thought there was only one Judas left in Dubai, but I guess there are more in other places. Could they be twins, triplets, and whatever plates???
ReplyDeleteThe church in Goa owes its apology to a 80 year old woman who entered its premises searching for TRUTH.For every baptised christian the churchn is his/her mother,secondly it the church of Christ.He tolerates us even though we are sinners. and the keepers of the church like Good Father Newton cannot tolerate a 80 year old woamn? what kind of Priest is he, to charge a 80 year old woamn ?the church does not belong to FR. Newton,he is baptised like any other baptised, though consecrated for holy duties,but it is the church of Christ not of Fr. Newton, he may be posted there.It is a home of every baptised Christian in that parish.Do you get punished for visiting your home?Then why hassle a poor woman of 80 years? The has noleader, no voice,because Truth is supressed,and Truth is CHRIST.
ReplyDeleteVery Good Idea of Tiatr
ReplyDeleteCAST:
Little girl : Fat lips Leitão;
80 year old : Dr. Willy in sari;
Priest : Dayanand Narvekar;
Sankistão : Vishvajeet;
Governor : Monster rat;
Police : Mickey mouse;
Public Prosecutor : Chorchil;
any more additions.....?
THE 80 YEAR OLD WOMAN FROM RIBANDAR IS A NIZ GOENKAR, SEARCHING AND FIGHTING FOR TRUTH AT THE AGE OF EIGHTY. MAY GOD BLESS HER.CAN WE HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH OF HER ON THE NET. THE CHURCH OF GOA HAS NO PITY ON HER.BUT CHRIST LOVES HER,BECAUSE SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH FOUNDED BY CHRIST, AND CHRIST IS TRUTH, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, AND SHE FIGHTING FOR THE TRUTH.CAN THE TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST PUNISH A 80 YEAR OLD WOMAN? HOW CAN IT PREACH LOVE OF GOD IN THE WORDS OF ST. PAUL:ROAMNS8/32 NOTHING CAN SEPARETE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, WHILE ON EARTH YOU PUNISH A 80 YEAR OLD WOMAN.ELISEO
ReplyDeleteAnonymous the VIII.... I don't think we will need any comedians in the tiatr. All the actors you have selected are professional comedians. They make us laugh and holler everyday with their stupidity and claiming to be God fearing. Good selection. While Dalia will write the tiatr, you can direct it. I will stay at the side to open and close the curtains. I'm good at that.
ReplyDelete