Panaji police has registered a case of rape against St Cruz MLA Babush Monserrate on the basis of a complaint filed by a minor girl. The incident took place over a month ago.
The former minister claimed that the allegations made against him were false and there was no question of him getting intimate with the girl.
Police were tight lipped about details of the case and refused to divulge the name of the accused as a preliminary inquiry was still on.
Briefing the media, Superintendent of Police (crime) with additional charge of SP North, Kathik Kashyal stated, " As of now, an offence has been registered under Section 3 and 4 (penetrative sexual assault) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012, Section 8 of Goa Children's Act, 2003 and Section 342 (wrongful confined), 328 (causing hurt by various means), 370 (buying or disposing of any person as slave) and 376 (rape) of IPC against a person called 'Babush'.
The case was transferred to Women's Police Station, Panaji late evening on the same day. Following this, she was taken in for medical test at the Goa Medical Collegeand Hospital, Bambolim.
SP Kashyap informed that the further investigation into this case are in progress under Police Inspector of Women's Police Station, Panaji Sudiksha Naik.
He, however, refused to comment on the identity of the accused while stating that "the investigation is in its preliminary stage".
In her complaint filed at the Panaji police station, the 16-year-old girl has accused Monserrate of raping her on numerous occasions.
Sources said that the complaint stated that the girl was introduced to Babush by one of her friends and that she was kept in the outhouse at his bungalow at Taleigao, where she was repeatedly raped.
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These are all to
frame me: Babush
Santa Cruz legislator Atanasio “Babush” Monserrate denied the allegations of sexually assaulting a girl, who was formerly his employee.
“There is no truth in the allegations. These are all to frame me … to fix me. There is an entire process of law that needs to be gone through and I will have to face it,” Monserrate who is presently out of the state told The Goan.
“I will be returning to the state tomorrow,” he added.
Monserrate alleged that he sacked the girl from a store he used to operate because she was caught stealing.
“More than one and a half month ago, she was caught stealing and I had subsequently sacked her. I had given her a job, because her mother had approached me seeking that she be given employment,” Monserrate said.
He alleged that the girl was out to frame him because he sacked her.
“After I sacked her she roamed around like a vagabond and allegedly, stole her own mother’s gold. Her mother filed a police complaint and she was arrested. She told the police that she didn’t want to live with her mother anymore, and walked into Apna ghar,” Monserrate said adding that he wasn’t yet familiar with the details of the complaint filed against him.“Over the last month she was staying at Apna Ghar. I have no idea when she filed the police complaint. This is what happens when you go out of your way to help people,” Monserrate said adding that there was no question of him sexually assaulting the girl.
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Appears a frame
up, says UGDP
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO: The United Goans Democratic Party leadership on late Wednesday night declined to comment whether the registration of the rape case against Babush Monsarrete would have a fall out on moves by the Santa Cruz MLA to take over the regional party.
UGDP vice President Adv Radharao Gracias, however, told The Goan that the case against Babush appears a frame up. Babush is a clear threat to the political parties in Tiswadi taluka after his victory in the CCP polls.
Asked whether the rape case would in any way affect plans by Babush to take over the UGDP later this month, Radharao said he cannot comment on the question at this stage. "Babush cannot join any party given his status as an unattached member. But, it is a fact that Babush was scheduled to take over the party through his men later this month", he said, adding that things will be clear on the case within a day or two.
