St. Cruz MLA gets conditional bail in minor rape case

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A Goa court on Wednesday granted conditional bail to former Congress leader and St. Cruz MLA Atanasio Monserrate, who has been accused of raping a minor girl.

The bail was granted on a surety of Rs. one lakh and on condition that the MLA would appear before the crime branch for seven days.

The court has also granted bail to two other accused - the mother of the girl and her alleged accomplice - in connection with this case. The police had earlier this month arrested the girl's mother on charges of trafficking.

Monserrate alias Baabush, who was booked on May 4, was sent to three-day police remand earlier on May 6 by a local court.

The police registered an FIR against Monserrate under Section 8 of the Goa Children's Act and Sections 3 and 4 of the POCSO Act, besides various IPC Sections of rape, assault and restraining the survivor.

Monserrate was expelled from the Congress on charges of anti-party activities after the Panaji Assembly by-polls last year.