Thaindian News

Panaji, Sep 7 (IANS) The Goa government has opened a fresh broadside against the mother of Scarlette Keeling, the British teenager who was found dead on a beach here in February. Even as the spotlight on the investigations into the Keeling’s sensational murder has dimmed after seven months of the crime, the government summoned the girl’s mother Fiona MacKeown to enquire into charges of neglecting her teenaged daughter.

Acting on a complaint of an NGO, the state government’s Women and Child Development (WCD) Department sent a letter to Fiona Friday asking her to appear personally in its office Sep 12.

However, it is unlikely that Fiona would be acting on the summons as she is currently in Britain.

Fiona’s lawyer Vikram Verna told IANS: “We got the summons and I will be emailing a copy to Fiona, who is in the UK. The time given is too short.”

The NGO Utt Goenkara in its complaint alleged that it was Fiona’s neglect that resulted in the circumstances leading to Scarlette’s murder.

“In her first statement to the police, Fiona herself stated she had left Scarlette with an unknown adult, which was a gross violation of the statutes in the Goa Children’s Act 2003,” advocate Aires Rodrigues of Utt Goenkara told IANS.

Scarlette’s semi-naked body was found on the Anjuna Beach, a popular tourist spot, Feb 18 with bruise marks. It was later confirmed that she was raped and killed. The case is being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The summons was issued by the department under Minister Ravi Naik, who also controls home affairs.

Naik had a few run-ins with Fiona in the recent past.

Midway through the investigations, Fiona alleged that the Goan drug mafia was responsible for her daughter’s death and Naik and Director General of Police B.S. Brar were hand in glove with the mafia.

Naik had questioned Fiona’s background and cast aspersions on her morality.

While the home minister claimed that he would “appeal to the central government not to extend the Fiona’s visa because she was an irresponsible woman”, he also promised to commission an enquiry into her conduct.