Panaji, Jan 1 (TOI): Musician and Padma Shri awardee Remo Fernandes has moved for anticipatory bail from the children's court, Panaji, on Thursday in the case of alleged verbal abuse of a minor girl by the singer.

In the application, Fernandes has stated that he has acquired Portuguese nationality, but has said that as he is a native of Goa with several properties in the state, he has family members in Goa and business interests in India and Goa, "there can be no apprehension" of him absconding and not attending the trial.

Stating that he has been falsely implicated in the case, Fernandes has said he is ready and willing to comply with all the conditions laid down by the court. Fernandes has said that on December 1, 2015, he and his son, Jonah, were proceeding to Margao from Siolim. The musician states that they crossed Mapusa at about 4.30pm and entered the narrow one-lane road at Guirim, where the ongoing digging work had created a traffic jam which reduced the speed of traffic. He said that a group of youth were walking on the side of the road, and suddenly a few buffaloes came onto the road. A girl, from the group, got scared and jumped in front of his car, which was being driven at a speed of about 30kmph. Fernandes said that he immediately came out of the car, finding the girl injured and offered to take her to the hospital, but the girl's companions replied that there was no such need, as they had already called 108ambulance.

Fernandes said that he was later asked by a priest to help the girl financially. Fernandes has said in the bail application that he agreed to help the girl financially, even though the girl was injured due to no fault of his son. He has said that he offered to pay double the amount of the expenses borne by the girl's family due to the hospitalization and treatment. Fernandes, however, has said that the girl's family argued with him asking for 3 lakh. Fernandes said that he assured to pay them 50,000 for the moment and left the hospital, where he had gone to visit the girl, as after the arguments, he was unable to reason with the minor girl's family as to on what basis they were demanding 3 lakh.

" The applicant (Fernandes) was shocked to learn that a false complaint was filed against the Applicant by advocate Aires Rodrigues, for having abused the injured on the date of the accident. The applicant states that the said accusation made against the applicant is absolutely false, and has been made by Rodrigues in connivance with the family of the injured, as the applicant refused to comply with the unjustified huge demand for money made by the sister of the injured," Fernandes has said in his application. He has said that he has the highest regard and love for children and has never abused any child till date. "The applicant informed the police in writing that he is out of station, and would arrive back to Goa only on January 8, 2016. He states that he wishes to travel to Goa to co-operate with the investigation and to disclose the true nature of events that transpired regarding the incident, but apprehends that he may be arrested at the airport on his arrival to Goa," Fernandes said.