Team Herald

PONDA: After complaints at the Margao and Panjim Police Stations, Bailancho Ekvott president Auda Viegas filed a complaint at Ponda Police Station against poet and former MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh for his poetry collection ‘Sudirk Sukta’ and the publisher of the book – Apurbay Publication Volvoi-Ponda.

Based on the complaint, Ponda Police registered an offence against Wagh and Apurbay Publication under Sections 292, 293, 295 of the IPC for obscene, derogatory remarks in the books thereby outraging the modesty of women, and Section 4 (indecency) of the Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986.

Sources at Ponda Police said that Viegas had earlier filed complaints at the Panjim and Margao Police Stations, but this complaint was asked to be registered at Ponda as the publisher is located at Volvoi-Ponda.

Terming some of the poems penned by Wagh in the book ‘Sudir Sukta’ as “obscene and derogatory” and targeting women, Viegas, claimed this to be an affront to the dignity of women as well as their character.

According to Viegas, a few poems from the book represent women in a very indecent manner. The book was published in 2013.

The controversy arose after it was leaked out that the book was being considered for an award by the Goa Konkani Academy. Last week the government had withdrawn 32 undeclared awards given by the Academy as a result of the controversy.