Nigerian rape accused was earlier booked twice

A Nigerian national, arrested for allegedly raping a 31-year-old woman in Goa last week, had been booked earlier for rioting, assault and illegally over-staying in India, police sources said.

Kenneth Upwegdha, 41, was arrested on Monday at the Panvel railway station near Mumbai and on Tuesday was remanded to police custody for three days by a trial court.

"Kenneth was arrested for rioting and blocking the National Highway in Goa in 2013. Our records also showed that he was booked at the Calangute police station in 2012 for illegally overstaying beyond his stipulated visa duration," police sources said.

Kenneth, along with another accomplice, who is still on the run, has been accused of allegedly kidnapping and raping a woman at knife-point on May 28.

The rape had caused outrage in the state, with Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar accusing Nigerians of trying to deceive the Indian legal system and committing crimes on purpose to prolong their stay in the country, using the judicial process as cover.

--IANS

maya