Indian police deliberately covered up Briton's rape and murder to protect tourism, says Goa tourism minister

The admission came as a barman appeared in court accused of rape and Scarlett's mother suggested the wrong man may have been arrested.

Samson D'Souza, 29, arrived in court with his head and ponytail concealed by a hood and cigarette burns visible on his hand.

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D'Souza worked in Lui's Shack, a bar in Anjuna where Scarlett had been drinking hours before her semi-naked body was found nearby on the beach on February 18.

Police inspector Kishen Kumar said he believed there would be sufficient evidence to charge D'Souza with murder.

But the teenager's mother, Fiona MacKeown, said: "I am not confident they have got the right person.

"I think that they are just making a public show, to be honest."

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It was only the determination of Mrs MacKeown, a mother-of-nine, to prove Scarlett had been murdered - and not drowned, as police claimed - that led to a second post mortem examination which found she had been raped and killed.

It showed her body was covered in bruises and there was insufficient water in her lungs to have drowned.

Tourism minister Francisco Pacheco said: "This is a clear case of murder and it has gone out of proportion because the police tried to cover it up."

He added: "This case will definitely hurt tourism.

"The guilty police officers should be immediately suspended."

It is not the first time the Indian authorities have been accused of covering up the murder of British visitors to protect the tourist trade.

Mrs MacKeown, 43, said: "We want the (Indian) Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the case.

"I would want them to deal with the police as well, not just the people that have done this to Scarlett.

"If they had dealt with it in the past, Scarlett may still be alive today."

Mrs MacKeown, from Bideford, Devon, had been on a six-month holiday with her boyfriend, Scarlett and six other children.

The rest of the family was travelling in a nearby state and Scarlett had stayed with a tour guide in Anjuna when she was last seen.

Mr Kumar said a witness had seen D'Souza in a "compromising position" on top of Scarlett on the beach.

He said that even if the sex was consensual, D'Souza would still be accused of rape because the Briton was a minor.

A British witness, known as Masala Mike, who shared a flat with D'Souza, has told police Scarlett told him she had taken LSD, Ecstasy and cocaine.

He said Scarlett and D'Souza were drinking on the beach at 4.45am. D'Souza told police he left her at 5.15am.

Scarlett's body was found at 6.30am. Next to the body were D'Souza's orange sandals.

Two other men, including Scarlett's tour guide boyfriend, are being held. Four others are being sought.