MARGAO
Former Raia Sarpanch Esmeralda Gomes has been sentenced to undergo six months imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs 25,000 by the South Goa Sessions Court for insulting a person belonging to the Scheduled Tribes by calling him by his caste.
The Court, however, suspended the sentence for one month to facilitate the former Sarpanch to prefer an appeal in a higher court.
The Court had last week convicted the former Raia Sarpanch for an offense under section 3(1)r and s of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Act, 1989.
The alleged incident had taken place on October 13, 2018 at the Raia Panchayat hall during the meeting of the Village Development Committee.
In his complaint, Anthony Barbosa had complained that the former sarpanch had allegedly abused him with filthy language and called him by his caste in full public view and in the presence of panchayat members and public during the Village Development Committee meeting, thereby intentionally insulting and humiliating him as he belongs to the ST community.
