IndiaPost.com - NRI woman who alleged rape not traceable

PANAJI: The Goa Police says the non- resident Indian (NRI) woman, who had alleged she was raped in a five-star hotel here last month, is not traceable. "Delhi Police had visited both the addresses (in Delhi) provided by the lady but did not find her.

No one knows where she is," Inspector General of Police Kishan Kumar told reporters here. State police have registered a case of rape after the 52- year-old woman based in New York filed a complaint with the South Delhi police.

Goa police questioned the hotel's management in connection with the case which comes close on the heels of rape and murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling on a popular beach in the tourist state. In her complaint with Delhi Police, the NRI woman had said she was dragged into a room in the hotel and raped by an known man on March 7.

"The lady went to a hospital in Delhi's Saket area for treatment where she disclosed about the rape. The hospital management called the police whom the lady refused to meet," Kumar said from information available from Delhi Police.

Instead, the woman gave a written complaint alleging rape, the IGP said. Police later visited both the addresses mentioned by her in the national capital but did not find her. Later, Delhi Police referred the medical examination report and complaint to Goa Police. Kumar said a police team will be sent to Delhi to get more facts.

"We have nothing except the written complaint." Police also decided to send the medical samples for test at a forensic laboratory at Hyderabad to ascertain the rape charge, he said. "We can't comment anything at this juncture (on the rape charge).

Police have tried their best to locate the lady," Kumar said, adding Goa Police too will try to find her whereabouts as her statement is crucial for cracking the case.

Goa Police, who have questioned the hotel authorities, have also sent an e-mail to the woman asking her to cooperate to track the suspect. "We are trying to contact her in all possible ways," a senior police official said.