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ALLEGED RAPE OF MINOR
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Goa Children’s Court on Thursday ordered four-day extension of police custody for St Cruz Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate in the alleged minor rape case. Likewise, the police custody of the mother of the minor girl was also extended by four days.
Both the accused are set to be produced before the court on Monday, May 16, by when the two will have spent ten days in police custody.
Seeking a week-long extension of remand for both Monserrate and the minor’s mother, the investigating team in its remand application disclosed that there is strong digital evidence obtained from the mobile used by the victim connecting the dots and linking the two accused.
Public Prosecutor Nita Marathe argued that a cloned mobile shows communication between Monserrate and the mother.
The police also expressed apprehension that the mother could migrate to her native country.
The PP stated that it will take some more time to get details and records of calls. She also said that the investigators have not had enough time to interrogate Monserrate in the cell because the officers have been taking him out for various medical and physical tests.
Countering the request for seven days extension of remand, Monserrate’s legal counsel Adv Saresh Lotliker observed that not even a single sentence has been included in the remand application on why Monserrate’s presence is necessary for the probe to go forward.
With the police remand of third accused Rosy Ferros, the minor girl’s neighbour, coming to a close, she will be presented before the Court on Friday.
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Counsel seeks judicial
custody for Monserrate
* Adv Lotlikar sought judicial custody for Monserrate on the ground that it would eliminate the possibility of influencing the victim or other witnesses
* He also pointed out that if, as per the police say, Monserrate has failed to cooperate, a shadow of doubt is cast on his cooperation in future as well
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MOTHER'S DEFENCE
* Legal counsel for the minor girl’s mother, Adv Damodar Dhond denied the charge that she had sent SMSes to Monserrate
* Arguing on the bail application by the mother on Monday, Adv Dhond said that she does not even know how to use a mobile phone
* Order on the mother’s bail application is likely to be pronounced this week, it is learnt
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