The main suspect in the rape and murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling in Goa, India, has been released on bail.

Samson D’Souza is facing a number of accusations, including raping the 15-year-old and assisting in her murder.

He was freed after the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) did not submit a list of charges against him.

The lawyer for Scarlett’s mother, Fiona MacKeown, said the CBI had applied to cancel the bail and the bail appeal would be heard in court next Friday.

Vikram Varma said: “I can confirm that D’Souza was released on bail. The CBI have moved to cancel the bail.

“Hopefully they will also file a charge sheet within a couple of weeks.”

A spokesman for the CBI said the bureau was still studying the case, and declined to give a specific time frame for when charges would be brought.

RK Gaur said: “We have taken charge of the case only few months back and we have to complete our investigation before filing the charge sheet.

Scarlett Keeling was found dead on a beach in the resort of Anjuna

“We have to look at every possible suspect and their involvement.”

Campaign for justice
Scarlett, from Bradworthy in north Devon, was on holiday with her family, who were travelling elsewhere in the region, when she was killed.

Her body was found on Anjuna beach in Goa on 19 February.

Police said initially that her death was an accidental drowning but, after a sustained campaign by Mrs MacKeown, the results were re-examined and a second post-mortem examination held resulting in a murder investigation.

Ms MacKeown believes Scarlett was raped by more than one man on the night she died.

Police have arrested two men in connection with her murder, Mr D’Souza, and Placido Carvalho.

Mr Carvalho was granted bail by a court in Goa in April.

Courtesy: BBC News