MAPUSA/PANAJI
A 75-year-old French actress has alleged that she has been held hostage in her Calangute home while she has been fighting a legal battle over the possession of her house.
However, Calangute police have ruled out the hostage situation and claimed that Marianne Borgo is not willing to step out of the house.
The situation outside the Septuagenarian star is alarming though. The gate is shut and some four to six bouncers stay guard inside the gate not allowing anyone to enter the house.
Borgo said that she has been staying alone in a single dark room in the house as people who want to dispossess her of the house have disconnected electricity and water supply.
“I am in a dangerous situation. For the last three days, I have been held hostage in my own house,” Borgo said in a video released to the media.
Sapna Sahani, a friend of the French actress informed that she (Borgo) had filed a case for injunction in a trial court to support her legal claim of the house she bought in 2008 from a lawyer Francisco Sousa, who has since died.
“Six private security guards blocked the exit gate with a jeep and restricted entry to everyone except a domestic maid,” Sahani said.
The actress’ lawyer, Benny Nazareth, told The Goan that despite the matter being pending before a civil court in Mapusa, on January 23, the people staking claim to his client’s property trespassed in the house and started banging the door of his client’s room and also threatened to kill her.
“They broke open the roof and even fixed CCTV cameras in the bathroom,” Nazareth said.
He said due to the gravity of the situation he filed a writ petition before the High Court on January 25 but since a civil matter was pending in a lower court, the High Court asked us to get relief from the lower court.
“The role of Calangute Police is appalling. Calangute PI Dattaguru Sawant had assured the High Court that security will be provided to the 75-year-old lady. But the reality on the ground is starkly different. The bouncers are having a free run. They are not allowing food or even medicine to the woman. She required the services of a doctor which was also denied,” Nazareth said.
Ruling out the hostage situation, Calangute Police claimed that the woman was not willing to step out of the house.
“We are visiting her daily to inquire about her health. She doesn’t want to come out of her house claiming the house belongs to her. She has hired male and female bouncers, and a maid to be with her. This is not a hostage situation,” Calangute PI Dattaguru Sawant said.
The Goan has also learnt that there have been complaints and counter complaints in the matter.
Marianne Borgo is a French actor, trained at the Centre d’Arte Dramatique and the Conservatoire National d’Arte Dramatique. She has worked extensively in film, television and theatre across Europe and India.
Her credits include the original ‘The Bourne Identity’, ‘A Little Princess’, and the Franco-American rom-com/drama ‘Le Divorce’ alongside Kate Hudson, Glenn Close and Stephen Fry.
