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Court notice to CBI in Scarlette case

PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa on Wednesday issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) directing it to be one of the respondents in the petition filed by Michael Mannion alias Masala, key witness in the mysterious death case of British teenager Scarlette Keeling, over the ‘Look Out Circular’ issued to him by the State police.

The notice is returnable on May 21.

Mr. Mannion approached the court after failing to get relief from the State police over the circular. He has been on the circular since he arrived in Goa on March 17 and deposed before the police and subsequently before the magistrate.

Mr. Mannion challenged the non-lifting of the circular despite his deposition before the magistrate and argued that it “cannot be indefinite as it amounts to violation of constitutional rights.”

Goa Advocate General Subodh Kanthak told the court that since the case had been handed over to the CBI, there was every possibility of the Central agency seeking the help of Mr. Mannion during the investigations.

Moreover, he pointed out that the petitioner had fled Goa after the incident, thereby compelling the police to issue the circular.

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Court notice to CBI in Scarlette case

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