Babush, others not assaulted in police station attack: CBI
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 20
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has said that Education Minister Babush Monserratte, his wife Jennifer and others were not assaulted in police custody and instead they suffered bodily injuries at the time of taking them into custody.
CBI Inspector Ashok Yadav, in his affidavit before the Bombay High Court at Goa, earlier this month, has also rubbished allegations of theft at Babush’s Miramar bungalow levelled against the policemen.
Monserratte had allegedly led a mob which attacked the Panjim police station on February 19, 2008.
On the same day, Babush, Jeniffer, Prakash Oli and Babaji Gadkari were arrested and detained. CBI has said that Babush’s son, Amit, was also detained in the police station for few hours but released later.
“All of them sustained bodily injuries at the time of taking them in police custody. Injury was caused due to scuffle and reasonable force used by police for effecting their arrest,” the affidavit mentions.
The CBI has also recommended departmental action against Police Inspector Sudesh Naik, Sub Inspector Tushar Lotlikar, lady police constable Savita Morje and police constable Anil Pilgaonkar for lapses in their duty on the eventful day.
Monserratte’s allegations that police had stolen valuables from his house at Miramar were also ruled out by the investigating agency.
“The allegation of theft of jewelry, cash, credit cards by breaking and forcefully opening the drawer on the first floor of the bungalow at Miramar was found false as there was no damage to the drawer where jewelry was kept,” the affidavit reads.
Quoting an eye witness, CBI has said that Babush’s immediate neighbour has stated that she did not see any police personnel causing damage to the cars parked near the bungalow (at Miramar).
“She further stated that there was a crowd at the junction when she came out of her house on hearing the noise of breaking glasses,” the CBI has said in the affidavit.
The minister along with 37 others including his wife Jennifer, former Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) Mayor Tony Fernandes, present CCP Mayor Carolina Po and others are charged for rioting, unlawful assembly with deadly weapons, causing hurt to public servants and under Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
CBI in its chargesheet mentioned that the minister collected a crowd to launch a protest march from Taleigao to the Panjim police station on February 19, 2008. Stones were also pelted on the police station and personnel, some of whom were not armed.
