Goa MLA minor rape case transferred to crime branch unit

The rape case involving former education minister and unattached Congress MLA Atanasio Monserrate has been transferred to the women's police station which functions under the crime branch, a senior police official said on Thursday.

Late on Wednesday, Monserrate also known as Babush, was booked by officials of the Panaji police station, for allegedly raping a minor girl, who was earlier in his employ.

According to Superintendent of Police (Crime) an FIR was filed under sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 328 (causing hurt), 370 (detaining against will), 376 (rape) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Goa Children's Act.

"The FIR has been registered on the complaint of the victim who is a minor girl against a person called Babush and further investigation is going on. It is being undertaken by women's police station. The investigation at a preliminary stage," Kashyap said.

However, speaking to IANS Monserrate said that the complaint against him was a result of a political conspiracy.

"I had hired this girl to work in my Hallmark store because her parents came to me to look for a job. But she stole some money from the counter and I had sacked her. This complaint is false. There is no question of my getting intimate with her," Monserrate said, adding that he was currently out of Goa.

"She has complained at someone else's bidding," Monseratte also said, without giving more details.

Monserrate was elected to the St. Cruz constituency on a Congress ticket, but was sacked from the party after he started hobnobbing with the BJP. He has been booked in the past for extortion.

His son Rohit, was also arrested for allegedly raping a minor German girl five years back, but was later acquitted from the charge.

--IANS

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