Goa government gets tough with Scarlett’s mother in neglect case
October 11th, 2008 - 4:12 pm ICT by IANSPanaji, Oct 11 (IANS) The Goa government appears to be pushing the pedal hard in the case of neglect filed against deceased British teenager Scarlett Keeling’s mother, Fiona Mackeown. It has threatened to proceed ex parte against Fiona if she fails to appear before the state’s Women and Child Development Deparment (WCDD) Oct 15.
In a written notice sent to Fiona’s lawyer Vikram Verma, WCDD director Sanjiv Gadkar has said, “This is the last opportunity given to her, failing which the matter shall be proceeded ex-parte against her and will be decided as per law.”
Fiona is presently in Britain.
Two other notices had been issued by the WCDD earlier, asking Fiona to remain present for the hearing. “The matter was adjourned on two earlier occasions, Sep 18 and Oct 8,” Gadkar has stated.
The notices followed a complaint by a Goa based NGO Utt Goenkara charging Fiona with violating the Goa Children’s Act 2003.
The complaint claimed that Fiona had violated provisions of the act by leaving Scarlett behind in the unlawful custody of a stranger while she herself was vacationing in Gokarna, in Karnataka.
Speaking to IANS, Fiona’s lawyer Vikram Varma claimed that the notice was “unfair”. “He should give hearing to Fiona, who will be represented by her lawyer,” Verma said.
In his reply to the notice, Verma stated that Fiona was a British citizen and does not live in Goa. “I have asked the state government to serve notice either at her residence in UK or work through the British High Commissioner,” Verma said.
The Goa police, meanwhile, have already started an independent enquiry on similar lines, on the direction of the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court.
Scarlett Eden Keeling’s body was found on Anjuna beach in February this year.
- Scarlett's mother given last chance to appear in Goa court - Dec 04, 2008
- Hearing in case against Scarlett's mother postponed - Dec 05, 2008
- Scarlett's mother to depose in Goa court July 30 - Jul 26, 2010
- Neglect charge against British teenager's mother dismissed - Dec 18, 2008
- Goa to probe complaint against Scarlett Keeling's mother - Oct 06, 2008
- Scarlett's boyfriend's aunts thought evil possessed him: Fiona - Jul 30, 2010
- Fiona unable to come for Scarlett's April 16 hearing - Apr 15, 2010
- Fiona likely to depose in court in Scarlett trial: Lawyer - Apr 14, 2010
- Scarlett Keeling's killers 'gave her drugs', claims her mother - Aug 03, 2010
- Hearing against Scarlett's mother postponed to Nov 5 - Oct 29, 2008
- Goa government summons murdered Scarlette Keeling’s mother - Sep 07, 2008
- Two probes into Scarlett's death gain momentum - Dec 25, 2008
- Goa home minister's sons draw salaries as personal aides - Apr 07, 2011
- Scarlett's character being maligned: Fiona - Aug 02, 2010
- Spanish friend to depose in Scarlett rape case - Apr 02, 2010
Tags: bombay high court, british citizen, british high commissioner, british teenager, goa government, goa police, gokarna, independent enquiry, neglect case, sanjiv
