PANAJI
Bowing to intense pressure, Goa police finally registered First Information Report (FIR) against ex-RSS Goa Chief Subhash Velingkar for his offensive statement against St Francis Xavier.
Velingkar's call for DNA test of the saint came just ahead of the decennial Exposition next month. The FIR filed is based on a complaint by MLA Cruz Silva has been registered under Section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of BNS.
"The above noted accused person with malicious intentions gave maligning speech against St Francis Xavier outraging the religious feelings and insulting religious beliefs of complainant, entire class of his religion and others," reads the FIR copy registered at 8:47pm on Friday.
The government has been under mounting pressure to register an FIR against the Hindu leader with people even marching to police stations, demanding action and the arrest of Velingkar.
Earlier, the Goa Police told The Goan they were inquiring into multiple complaints to determine “if any case is made out” against the Hindu leader.
Over half a dozen complaints have been filed at various police stations across North and South Goa by several groups demanding Velingkar’s arrest. A senior officer had stated that the case, if registered, would be at Bicholim police station as the offense was made in this Police Station jurisdiction.
“Firstly, the alleged statement against the saint was made within the jurisdiction of the Bicholim PS and complaints were filed at different police stations. We are examining all the complaints to consolidate them into one case and are checking if they warrant any legal action, especially since there have been some clarifications from Velingkar’s side as well,” the officer added.
While the government has not made any specific comment on Velingkar's DNA remarks, the BJP had stated that anyone who feels offended should file a police complaint against him.
