Goa to examine acquittal of serial killer

Home Minister Ravi Naik today said that the Directorate of Prosecution (DoP) was studying all the judgements in Mahanand case and if required,the state would appeal in higher courts against the acquittals.

“In all the cases,courts have given benefit of doubt for the accused. DoP is analysing the judgement,which will help in filing further chargesheets,” the Home Minister said.

Talking to reporters in Panaji along with Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava,Naik said that state is also contemplating the possibility of appealing against the lower court judgements to the higher courts.

“We will wait for all the cases filed against Mahanand to get to their logical conclusion before deciding on further action,” he said.

Mahanand (40),was initially arrested for raping a 23-year-old girl,who happened to be his wife’s friend.

During the police interrogation,Mahanand had allegedly confessed of killing 18 women over 15 years beginning from 1995.

The alleged killer used to strangulate the women using dupatta by taking them to isolated spots.

Police had earlier claimed that Mahanand¿s arrest had helped them solve 18 murder cases,in which girls were found dead in mysterious circumstances.