Drugs link to India murder probe

Scarlett Keeling was found dead in India in February last year

Witness statements in the investigation into the rape and murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling have suggested that drugs were freely available near the beach where her body was found.

Murli Sagar Bolloju, who was in the shack in Goa where the 15-year-old spent her last day, claimed that drugs including Ecstasy and LSD were being sold in the village of Anjuna.

"Hashish, charas (hand-made hashish), cocaine, Ecstasy tablets, Ketamine and LSD are available on Anjuna beach and can be purchased from the car park opposite Paradiso Club and Nine bar and restaurant," the statement said.

It also alleged that shack owners often ignore the use of drugs on their premises as their businesses would suffer.

"In most shacks, foreigners and Indians are used to hash joints. No shack owner will stop a hash joint user. Sometimes he will also join the foreigners and have a puff," the statement revealed.

Scarlett, from Bideford, Devon, was found dead on Anjuna beach in February last year and investigators suggested there were traces of drugs and alcohol in her body.

Vikram Varma, the lawyer handling the case for her mother Fiona MacKeown, told the Press Association: "The witnesses have mentioned the sale of drugs on the beach. Scarlett was killed by the drug cartel. They stored drugs in the shack and could influence enough people to cover up important evidence."

In September, the agency investigating the case filed charges against two accused Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho.

"According to witnesses, Placido bought cocaine and hashish and would store it in the shack. He was part of the drug cartel," Mr Varma added. "I hope that after the clear cut written submissions handed to the court, the state takes quick action to tackle the drug cartel."

The duo were charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, assault with intent to outrage a woman's modesty and administering a stupefying drug with intent to harm. Both are out on bail.