IANS

Panaji, Dec 2: A Russian woman tourist has accused a Goan politician of attempting to rape her.

According to a complaint filed at the Colva police station Wednesday, the Russian, 25, said that John Fernandes, an aspiring politician from a regional political party, tried to rape her after offering her a lift in his car Tuesday night.

"We have booked an attempt to rape case against Fernandes. We have not been able to trace him yet. Investigations are on," an official at the Colva police station said.

The Russian was here on a vacation and was staying at a hotel in Colva, a coastal resort village about 35 km from here.

She said that Fernandes promised to drop her to the hotel, but instead took her to a lonely spot and tried to rape her.

She said that she managed to wrest free and fled back to the hotel.

The police have booked Fernandes, 34, under sections 376 and 511 of the Indian Penal Code.

Fernandes had narrowly lost against Tourism Minister Francisco alias Mickky Pacheco in the state assembly elections.

Crimes against women in Goa have come under the spotlight, especially after the brutal rape and murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling in Anjuna last year.