BJP asks Monserratte to make public cases pending against him

The BJP Wednesday demanded that Congress candidate for the Panaji assembly bypoll Atanasio Monserratte make public the criminal cases pending against him, which is mandatory as per the Supreme Court directives.

Addressing a press conference, Goa BJP spokesman Damodar Naik said Monserratte is yet to make public the criminal cases pending against him through advertisements in newspapers, which is necessary as per the SC guidelines.

Naik said Monserratte should publicise details about the criminal cases pending against him, at least three times before the campaigning ends on May 17.

The by-election for the Panaji Assembly segment is scheduled on May 19 in which Monserratte is pitted against the BJP's Siddharth Kunkolienkar, the Goa Suraksha Manchs Subhash Velingkar and Valmiki Naik of the AAP.

The BJP spokesman said Monserratte has specifically mentioned in his affidavit, filed before the Chief Electoral Officer along with his nomination form, that four cases are pending against him.

Naik said the cases pending against Monserratte are of grievous nature, including attack on policemen, under POCSO Act, damage to public property, money laundering and others.

In July 2018, the police filed a chargesheet against Monserratte, a former minister, in connection with the alleged rape of a minor girl in 2016.

The Congress candidate is also facing cases related to human trafficking in 2016 and attack on the Panaji Police Station in 2010.

Naik said Monserratte should make public his criminal record "as soon as possible" as the voters of Panaji should know the "character" of the Congress candidate.