The Children’s Court extended the police custody of Santa Cruz legislator and Taleigao strongman Atanasio “Babush” Monserrate by another three days.
Monserrate was produced before the Children’s Court on Monday after his earlier remand had expired with the police seeking another ten days of police custody.
Arguing on behalf of the police, public prosecutor Neeta Marathe said that they sought extending Monserrate’s custody on the grounds that they had only three days to investigate the case and alleging that he wasn’t cooperating with the investigations.
“The offences he is charged with are of serious nature. We had initially sought ten days police custody but have been given only three days which is not enough. Monserrate has not been cooperating with the investigating authorities,” the prosecutor told the court.
However, while not exactly opposing police custody, advocate representing Monserrate, Saresh Lotlikar questioned the rationale behind demanding ten additional days of police custody.
“The grounds they are seeking for extending his custody is the same what they had cited the previous time. They need to explain what have they done during these three days. It seems the investigations have run into a dead end and the police have nothing more to do and are spending time on his psychoanalysis,” Lotlikar told the court.
He also sought to demolish the argument that Monserrate would tamper with evidence or witnesses saying that he has turned himself in in a bid to cooperate with the investigations.
“They say I’m influential and that I’m not cooperating with the investigations but have not spelled out how I’m not cooperating with the investigations. I have turned myself in no sooner did I read in the papers that there was a case against me. If I wanted to tamper with evidence or witnesses I would not have turned myself in,” Lotlikar told the court.
After hearing both sides Judge BP Deshpande presiding over the Children’s Court granted the police a further three days police custody.
“The statement is manipulated. It has been manipulated right from the start, from the stage of the Child Welfare Committee,” Gomes said.
Meanwhile, Rajeev Gomes, who is representing Atanasio Monserrate, said that they would not file bail application until the court send Monserrate to judicial custody.
Speaking to media persons outside the courthouse, Gomes also accused the police of biased investigation.
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VICTIM'S MOTHER
FILES FOR BAIL
* Mother of the victim girl filed a bail application before the Children’s Court on Monday even as the court extended her police custody by another three days.
* Arguing on her behalf Adv Damodar Dhond said that the only case against her was that she had sold her daughter for ₹50-lakh. The bail case will come up for hearing on Thursday May 12.
