PANJIM: With the expelled Congress legislator Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate to be produced before the judicial magistrate on Monday where crime branch (CB) is certain to seek his extended custody, the former is most likely not to apply for bail at this stage of investigation.
“We are yet to decide whether or not to apply for bail (on Monday). All this will depend on police remand period,” defence counsel Advocate Rajiv Gomes told Herald.
Babush was remanded to three days police custody last Friday, a day after he surrendered himself to the CB in connection with the alleged rape of his ex-employee. He has charged the investigating agency of coercing the victim to give a manipulated statement regarding the alleged incident in an attempt to ‘politically weaken’ him.
“The girl (victim) is forced to make this statement (accusing Babush of raping her) to politically weaken him. Her statement is manipulated… The investigating agency is disclosing case details to the media. Why public should be entitled to know all this when the trial (in the later stage) is open?” the advocate had submitted to the court last week seeking banning CB from divulging probe details to the media.
Meanwhile, the third accused Rosy Ferros, who had surrendered to the CB on Saturday has been remanded to three days police custody. The influential woman from Taleigao is charged with allegedly selling the minor, in connivance with the victim’s step mother to Babush at Rs 50 lakh.
Meanwhile the NGO, ‘Savera’, has filed a police complaint after a picture — supposedly of the rape victim — was circulated and published on social media. “The picture is being circulated on various social media including Facebook. There are many people who are disclosing the identity of the girl,” Savera’s Chief Tara Kerkar said seeking action under section 228 of Indian Penal Code against those displaying her pictures.
